Odisha's Sulia Jatra kicks off with animal sacrifice rituals

Bolangir (Odisha): The famous Sulia Jatra kicked off with its animal sacrifice rituals amid Covid-19 guidelines. Thousands of birds and animals including goats, sheep, buffaloes, ducks, pigeons and roosters were sacrificed at Bada Khala in Khairguda and Sana Khala in Kumuria village amid tight security arrangements. However, Meena bazaar and cultural functions have not been organised this year in order to prevent huge congregation at the festival site due to the Covid-19 restrictions in place. Tribals believe that appeasing the deity by sacrificing animals brings good rainfall and harvest. The animal sacrifice ritual takes place on the second Tuesday of the Odia month of Pausa every year. Earlier, Odisha government had tried to stop the gory practice following Orissa High Court order to stop the animal sacrifice, but the ritual continued after Supreme Court in its ruling in 2015 held that animal sacrifice, being a sensitive issue, was better dealt with by representatives of the people at appropriate forums.