Karnataka: Hindu groups push for ‘Halal-free’ Durga Jatre to preserve tradition

Davanagere: With the historic Durga Jatre (Durga Fair)  just weeks away, a strong movement has begun in Davanagere demanding that this year’s festival be conducted in a completely “Halal-free” manner. Hindu organisations, led by Sri Ram Sene, say the call is not aimed at creating conflict but at protecting the sanctity of age-old Hindu religious traditions.

The annual Durga Jatre, dedicated to Goddess Durgamma, is among the most popular festivals in central Karnataka. The month-long celebrations feature cultural programmes, traditional wrestling bouts, folk performances and large community feasts. A major religious ritual during the jatre is the sacrifice of sheep offered by devotees as part of their vows.

According to Hindu activists, the method used for these sacrifices must strictly follow Hindu customs. They argue that allowing the Islamic halal method for slaughtering animals in a Hindu temple festival goes against the spirit of the ritual.

“Durga Jatre is a purely Hindu religious event. Every ritual here has a specific traditional significance. Halal is an Islamic practice and has no connection with Hindu worship. Therefore, the sacrifices must be carried out only in the Hindu way by members of Hindu butcher communities,” said a  Sri Kantappa senior Sri Ram Sene leader.

The organisation has appealed to temple authorities and devotees to ensure that only butchers from the Kalal or Khatik Hindu communities are engaged for the ritual slaughter. Supporters say this has been the original practice for generations and must be restored and protected.

For many local devotees, the issue is about religious identity and faith rather than politics. “When we offer a sheep to the Goddess, it is a sacred act. It should be done according to our customs and beliefs. Why should an outside religious practice be mixed with Hindu rituals?” questioned a devotee who has been participating in the jatre for decades.

The call for a Halal-free jatre has received significant support on social media and among local Hindu groups. Posters and campaigns urging devotees not to opt for halal slaughter have begun circulating across Davanagere city.

Organisers of the movement insist that their demand is constitutional and within the rights of a religious community to manage its own traditions. “Just like every religion follows its own procedures, Hindu festivals too must be conducted in accordance with Hindu practices. This is about protecting culture, not targeting anyone,” another activist said.

The Durga Jatre is scheduled for February 24 and 25, the two most important days of the festival. On these days, thousands of sheep are traditionally sacrificed and community meals are prepared. One day of the jatre is meant mainly for vegetarian devotees, while the other day witnesses large-scale non-vegetarian offerings.

Preparations for the festival have already begun with the installation of the sacred ‘Handara Gamba’ pole and special rituals performed by the temple trust headed by District In-charge Minister S.S. Mallikarjun. The entire city is slowly slipping into festive mode with decorations, flags and religious programmes.

Amid these preparations, Hindu groups maintain that ensuring a Halal-free festival is essential to uphold the purity of the occasion. They point out that animal sacrifices are anyway carried out in enclosed spaces as per government rules and not openly in front of the temple. Therefore, implementing traditional Hindu slaughter methods should not be difficult.

Supporters also argue that Hindu butcher communities have historically been part of the jatre economy and deserve priority. “Engaging Hindu butchers will also help local livelihoods and maintain the original social structure of the festival,” they say.

The organisers of the campaign insist that their intention is peaceful. “We are not calling for any boycott or conflict. We are only requesting devotees to remain faithful to their own traditions,” Sri Ram Sene representatives clarified.