Animal rights people, are you watching this?
Nepal’s government has refused to put a stop to what it says is a centuries-old religious tradition, despite a vocal opposition campaign from local animal rights activists who say the slaughter is needless cruelty.
Their cause is supported by the well-known Indian animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi and by the French film star turned campaigner Brigitte Bardot, who this month wrote to Nepal’s president urging him to put a stop to the festival.
Armed police have been deployed around the temple grounds and there were fears of clashes between animal rights activists and festival-goers.