Rabin Man Shakya,
Portland, USA.
Dashain, Mohani Nakha, Bijaya Dashami or Dharma Bijaya, whatever we call it, is the most important cultural event for the Nepalese, more so for the Nepalese living abroad. This is the solemn occasion for the Nepalese community across the world to have a gathering or reception.
Like every year, Nepali Association of Oregon is throwing a Dashain party in Portland this year as well.
It is to be noted that Nepalese Hindus celebrate Bijaya Dashami as the the Day of victory of Goddess Durga Bhavani over the powerful but evil demon Mahishashur, whereas Nepalese Buddhists observe Mohani Nakha to commemorate Emperor Ashoka's adoption of non-violence and Buddhism.
In 266 BC, Emperor Ashoka expanded his empire after conquering the bloody Kaling war. But when Emperor Ashoka inspected the battlefield after the victory in war, he saw thousands of mutilated dead bodies.
After a great deal of soul searching, Emperor Ashoka was able to change his perspective. On the Dashami of Ashwin Shukla, he abandoned violence and weapons by following the path of Buddhism. To commemorate this day of victory over Mara, the Buddhists celebrate Mohani Nakha as the Day of Dharma Bijaya.
Meanwhile, it is during the Dashain time that thousands of Bokas, Chyangras, Bhedas, ducks and hens are mercilessly slaughtered to please the Gods.
Today more than ever, Nepal is still notorious in the world for animal slaughtering at the cars, trucks and temples. Republican and democratic Nepal today faces a number of challenges and issues which are related to the abolition of many religious practices and rightly so.
Killing the innocent animals in a barbaric style in front of the vehicles, cars and temples publicly with children watching it to please the Gods is insane and ridiculous.
This evil practice prevalent in Nepal in thousands of temples raises the question: Will the Gods be really happy with the barbaric offerings of innocent animals ? This is just hypocrisy.
There is no doubt that heartless and cold blooded killing of the animals right in front of the Hindu temples and statues of Hindu Gods is to involve the temples and Gods themselves with the responsibility of brutal killings of innocent animals.
This deep-seated ill tradition is wrongly so rampant that some Nepalese living in other countries like the US, Russia, the UK, Australia, the Gulf countries etc are still eager to keep up the Khasi or Boka Katne Parampara. The international animal rights advocates have been appalled by the savagery against innocent animals.
But it is true that animal slaughtering in the name of pleasing the Gods and in the name of preserving age-old practices is outrageous and unacceptable. The animal rights activists of Nepal have been outraged by the continuous animal slaughtering at other Hindu religious occasions.
As a matter of fact, Nepal has been drawing international headlines in the past for barbaric animal killings at the temples and other religious sites. In the name of religion, violence against animals is still considered auspicious. If innocent and poor animals are slaughtered in front of the cars, vehicles and temples, is this the religion, is this the piety?
Animal slaughtering at the temples and vehicles is barbaric, inhuman and regressive act. This kind of ruthless and cruel activities must be controlled by the state outright.
Portland, USA.
Dashain, Mohani Nakha, Bijaya Dashami or Dharma Bijaya, whatever we call it, is the most important cultural event for the Nepalese, more so for the Nepalese living abroad. This is the solemn occasion for the Nepalese community across the world to have a gathering or reception.
Like every year, Nepali Association of Oregon is throwing a Dashain party in Portland this year as well.
It is to be noted that Nepalese Hindus celebrate Bijaya Dashami as the the Day of victory of Goddess Durga Bhavani over the powerful but evil demon Mahishashur, whereas Nepalese Buddhists observe Mohani Nakha to commemorate Emperor Ashoka's adoption of non-violence and Buddhism.
In 266 BC, Emperor Ashoka expanded his empire after conquering the bloody Kaling war. But when Emperor Ashoka inspected the battlefield after the victory in war, he saw thousands of mutilated dead bodies.
After a great deal of soul searching, Emperor Ashoka was able to change his perspective. On the Dashami of Ashwin Shukla, he abandoned violence and weapons by following the path of Buddhism. To commemorate this day of victory over Mara, the Buddhists celebrate Mohani Nakha as the Day of Dharma Bijaya.
Meanwhile, it is during the Dashain time that thousands of Bokas, Chyangras, Bhedas, ducks and hens are mercilessly slaughtered to please the Gods.
Today more than ever, Nepal is still notorious in the world for animal slaughtering at the cars, trucks and temples. Republican and democratic Nepal today faces a number of challenges and issues which are related to the abolition of many religious practices and rightly so.
Killing the innocent animals in a barbaric style in front of the vehicles, cars and temples publicly with children watching it to please the Gods is insane and ridiculous.
This evil practice prevalent in Nepal in thousands of temples raises the question: Will the Gods be really happy with the barbaric offerings of innocent animals ? This is just hypocrisy.
There is no doubt that heartless and cold blooded killing of the animals right in front of the Hindu temples and statues of Hindu Gods is to involve the temples and Gods themselves with the responsibility of brutal killings of innocent animals.
This deep-seated ill tradition is wrongly so rampant that some Nepalese living in other countries like the US, Russia, the UK, Australia, the Gulf countries etc are still eager to keep up the Khasi or Boka Katne Parampara. The international animal rights advocates have been appalled by the savagery against innocent animals.
But it is true that animal slaughtering in the name of pleasing the Gods and in the name of preserving age-old practices is outrageous and unacceptable. The animal rights activists of Nepal have been outraged by the continuous animal slaughtering at other Hindu religious occasions.
As a matter of fact, Nepal has been drawing international headlines in the past for barbaric animal killings at the temples and other religious sites. In the name of religion, violence against animals is still considered auspicious. If innocent and poor animals are slaughtered in front of the cars, vehicles and temples, is this the religion, is this the piety?
Animal slaughtering at the temples and vehicles is barbaric, inhuman and regressive act. This kind of ruthless and cruel activities must be controlled by the state outright.
