Like every year, faith prevailed over reasoning in Odisha's Kalahandi district as thousands of animals and birds were slaughtered near Manikeswari temple in the name of sacrifice to appease the deity on Wednesday.
Despite awareness drive by district administration since last few days to check animal sacrifice, the devotees sacrificed animals on either side of the road near the temple to appease the presiding deity of the temple on the occasion of 'Chhattar Yatra' in Bhawanipatna, official sources said.
"We had undertaken awareness drive and engaged our officials to sensitise people not to indulge in animal sacrifices," said Kalahandi's Superintendent of Police Brijesh Kumar Rai.
"However, animal sacrifice took place despite our best efforts. We hope our sensitisation drive would bear good results in coming days," he added.
Thousands of people took part in the annual festival and had a glimpse of the presiding deity.
The goddess was taken in a procession from Jenakhal after Sandhi Puja to Bhawanipatna, the permanent abode of the deity.
Meanwhile, security arrangements have been beefed up in the area. Ten platoons of police forces have been deployed in the city to avoid any untoward incident.
"We have made elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident and to maintain law and order," Rai said.
