Bhubaneswar, Oct. 4: Blood flowed as hundreds of animals were slaughtered at various “shakti pithas” in the state on the occasion of Durga Puja despite protests from animal rights groups.

“The gory ritual of animal sacrifice was performed at various places, including Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi,” said Orissa unit secretary of People for Animals Jiban Ballav Das.

“We have been opposing animal sacrifice for years. At some places, the bloody ritual has stopped because of adverse public opinion. However, the practice still continues at many other places,” said Das while stressing the need for strict enforcement of law.

At Bhawanipatna, more than 10,000 animals and birds were butchered on the road as part of rituals of “Chhatar yatra” of goddess Manikes-wari, claimed Baidyanath Mishra, an activist.

Following centuries-old tradition, goddess Manikeswari’s chhatar (umbrella) is taken out in a procession on Mahashtami day to a place called “Jenakhal”, where some “secret rituals” are performed. Thousands of devotees wait on both sides of a major thoroughfare in the town with their offerings for the return of the chhatar. During the return journey of the chhatar, the frenzied devotees butcher the animals and birds and offer these to the goddess.

“Today, the main road was soaked with the blood of sacrificed animals and birds,” said Mishra.

“People are presenting offerings to the goddess out of devotion. How can we interfere with their religious belief,” asked a senior official, requesting anonymity.

Animal sacrifices were also reportedly made in the 700-year-old famous Bhagabati temple at Banpur in Khurda district last night, though the district administration strongly denied it.

“Police forces have cordoned off the temple. We have not allowed a single animal sacrifice at the temple,” said Khurda sub-collector Gangadhar Sahu, who was camping at the town.

In Kendrapara district, nearly 200 animals at three prominent Sakthi shrines were reported sacrificed at midnight yesterday. The ritual went on till the wee hours in Satabhaya Panchuvarahi, Osaranga Maa Jagulai and Badagaon Maa Matia sakthi shrines of this coastal district.

“We are shocked to note that quite a few village level politicians including panchayat representatives brought sacrificial goats to the deities. The first sacrificial goat butchered at Satabhaya shrine was in fact was offered by the Rajnagar police station,” said Bijoy Kabi, animal rights’ activist.

“As is customary, a gram rakhi (village guard) representing Rajnagar police station had brought a goat for the ritual. I was witness to the ritual besides the ward members of the gram panchayat,” said Sashmita Das, sarpanch, Satabhaya gram panchayat.

Rajnagar police station inspector Abhinav Dakua, however, said: “I am not aware of animal sacrifice being made on behalf of the police station.”

Kendrapara collector Pradipta Kishore Pattnaik said: “The Rajnagar block development officer has been asked to conduct an inquiry into the alleged animal sacrifice and submit a report.”