2,000 goats sacrificed in temple festival-Chennai-Cities-The Times of India

2,000 goats sacrificed in temple festival-Chennai-Cities-The Times of India

2,000 goats sacrificed in temple festival
4 May 2008, 0553 hrs IST,TNN

ERODE: At least 2,000 baby goats were slaughtered at a temple festival at Poosariyur in Erode district and their blood was consumed by the priests.

In an annual ritual during the Tamil month of Chithirai at Semmunisamy temple, hundreds of people gather for a bizarre thanksgiving. They come with baby goats, sacrifice them at the temple altar and hand them over to the three priests to taste the blood.

After drinking the blood of a few goats, the priests leave. And then it is free meat for all. From the police men on duty to the people who come from across the district, all take at least one or two of the sacrificed kids. Locals say people who suffer from ailments offer to sacrifice a baby goat if they get well. Every New Moon day, scores of mentally ill people come to to the temple get "". The priests hit their heads with neem leaves to ward off the evil spirits.

During the erstwhile AIADMK regime, animal sacrifices were banned in temples. However, following protests from devotees, the ban was lifted.