Every year, animals, especially male goats, are sacrificed at the shrine in Katarapur village before the goddess the day after Diwali.
"My husband fell ill a couple of months back. I spent a lot of money on his treatment but in vain. Then I promised to sacrifice a male goat before Dakshina Kali at Katarapur for his cure. By the grace of the goddess, my husband got cured and today I have come here to keep my word," said Parbati Sethy of Jajpur Sadar village.
She was among over 100 devotees who offered goats at the altar of Dakshina Kali Temple despite ban by the district authorities and protest by animal lovers, sources said.
Eye-witnesses said over 100 goats were killed at the temple situated about 25 km from the district headquarters.
The ritual, which began in the forenoon, continued for about two hours. Goats were lined up on the altar after being given a holy bath at a nearby pond before being sacrificed. The temple managing committee, however, said it had no role to play in the ritual.
"We don't encourage animal sacrifice and people, whose wishes are fulfilled by the grace of the goddess, come here on their own and offer animals for sacrifice," said Natabar Sethy, an office bearer of Dakshina Kali Puja Committee.
But, the district administration said it had instructed the temple committee not to sacrifice any animal at the altar.
Jajpur sub-collector Maheswar Panigrahi said, "I had gone to the Dakshina Kali altar at Katarapur twice yesterday and today morning and instructed the temple committee clearly to stop sacrifice.