Nepal’s Maoist government has sparked rioting and allegations of launching a “cultural revolution” by withdrawing funding for animal sacrifices at a popular religious festival.
Telegraph | Sep 22, 2008
Nepal: Riots as Maoist governments cut sacrifice subsidy
By Thomas Bell
Last week the finance minister, presenting the national budget, announced that a £100 allowance to buy sacrificial goats and buffalos would be withdrawn.
The animals are decapitated at the culmination of the Indra Jatra festival, when Kathmandu receives the blessing of its “living goddess” – a young girl regarded as an incarnation of the goddess Teleju.
“The Maoist government is trying to stamp out cultural and religious festivals,” said Rajan Maharajan, one of the living goddess’s guardians. “It’s their first step towards a cultural revolution.”
Young men from the conservative Newar community, which dominates central Kathmandu and reveres the living goddess, went on the rampage over the weekend, throwing bricks and clashing with police amid the city’s ancient temples. The police responded with tear gas.
In an attempt to end the chaos the government agreed on Sunday to continue funding the festival, and to pay the medical bills of injured protesters. But it was too late for the conclusion of this year’s Indra Jatra.
For the first time in history, Nepal’s new president was due to receive the living goddess’s blessing in place of the king but the ceremony had to be cancelled amid the continuing protests.
Earlier this year the country’s monarchy – traditionally seen as a guardian of religious traditions – was abolished and a Maoist government installed following national elections. After a decade of civil war the world’s only Hindu Kingdom became a secular republic.
2 responses so far ↓
sabin // September 25, 2008 at 2:35 am
We, Newari Community, are stunned by the Government’s decision to cut off expenses to run our culture in the name of unnecessary expense. What we believe is the royalty that the government collects from tourist only in Kathmandu Durbar Square (place where the Indra Jatra beings) is more than enough to carry out not only Indra Jatra but all festivals in Nepal.
I have question to Finance Minister, Babu Ram, he has increased wage of all government officer by Rs. 2000 and he will be giving out the wages from the royalty the government gets from visiting tourist. Tourists visit Nepal as we, Newari Community, are preserving our culture, not the government. He must realize this and correct this decision.
We all, not only Newari Community, but also all Nepalese Citizen are against the government decision.
pjwalker911 // September 25, 2008 at 3:33 am
Did you ever hear of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge?
Wait until the Maoists ban religion, take all the private property and start forcing people to work the communal farms, killing anyone who opposes them. Then you will see how serious they are.
I have some hundreds of articles on Nepal and Maoists here. Just do the search (upper right window and hit enter).