ANIMAL SACRIFICE ONCE AGAIN AT SULIA YATRA THIS YEAR Wednesday, 27 December 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

ANIMAL SACRIFICE ONCE AGAIN AT SULIA YATRA THIS YEAR

Wednesday, 27 December 2017 | SUDHIR MISHRA | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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With no opposition from any quarters, the sacrifice of goats, sheep, hens, and even buffaloes  took place once again on Tuesday at the main Sulia Pitha, popularly known as Badkhala, at Khairugda village in Kulpatda panchayat in Deogaon block in Balangir district, 24 km from the headquarters town here, much to the anguish of animal lovers.

Sulia Yatra is observed on the first Tuesday of the Pausa month by the tribal people. The killing of animals and birds takes place at Badkhala and  at another place called Saan Khala, 2 km from the main Yatra site.

Animal sacrifice is a tradition of tribals which has been going on for ages. The tribal people believe it as part of their culture and tradition, without which they cannot survive. They believe that offering blood of animals and birds to Sulia, their traditional deity, brings good harvest resulting in prosperity and happiness to their families and the community as a whole.

“I have brought a small buffalo to offer to deity Sulia Budha as one of my wishes has been fulfilled,” said an old tribal villager of Odiapali.

Even a small child accompanied by his family members also brought a buffalo to offer to the deity. “I have brought this buffalo to offer to Sulia as one of our my relatives got cured thanks to the blessings of the deity,” said Kahna of Baghapali.

Initially, Paat Buka or the special animal selected for killing is offered to the deity in early morning, after which other animals are killed. The sacrifice is managed by the Milita Sulia Yatra Puja Committee, which has representation of 61 villages in 15 gram panchayats of Balangir and contiguous Subarnapur districts. This year, the practice went on peacefully, said committee secretary Maya Pradhani.

The Sulia Yatra is one of the major festivals of tribals of western Odisha. On Monday evening, Lord Shiva is worshipped first and next early morning, animal sacrifice is performed during the festival.

“People are offering animals as their desires were fulfilled,” said Pramod Bohidar, a youth leader.

Three platoons of police force led by 15 officers and 70 Home Guards were deployed to maintain law and order at the Sulia Yatra this year, said Balangir SDPO NarayanNaik to this correspondent.