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Animal sacrifice ban had the consent of Hindu leaders: Minister
The decision to ban animal sacrifices in Hindu kovils was taken with the consent of Hindu community leaders, Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M. Swaminathan said.
He said the Cabinet intervened and approved the memorandum prohibiting animal slaughter in Hindu temples, largely because there was no institutionalised structure to regulate Hindu temples’ practices and activities. At present, they are left in the hands of individuals and management committees.
The minister said animal and bird sacrifices were a primitive method of worship, which a majority of Hindus did not approve. In addition, slaughtering of animal in open courtyards of temples caused health problems and mental stress to devotees, he said.
Till the recent ban was imposed, annual animal sacrifices took place in the Muneswaram Kovil, Chunnakam Vairavar Kovil, Soorawathai and Konawathai Kovils in Jaffna.
All Ceylon Hindu Congress Secretary V. Kandasamy said that as Hindus they welcomed the move to stop the slaughter of animals in temples.