A villager in Khairguda protests against animal sacrifice. Telegraph picture

Balangir, Jan. 5: As the day for Sulia festival nears, the district administration here has launched a massive awareness drive to put an end to animal sacrifice during the festival.

Every year thousands of birds and animals, including hundreds of buffaloes, are sacrificed to appease Sulia god during the tribal festival at Khairguda village about 20km from here.

Traditionally the festival is observed on the second Tuesday after the new moon in the month of Pousa. This year, the date falls on January 11.

Social extension officer of Deogaon block Nabakrishna Sahu said people of four panchayats —Arjunpur, Kultapada, Makundpur and Badbahal of Deogaon block — are involved in the drive against animal sacrifice at this year’s Sulia festival.

“All the people’s representatives — sarpanchs and samiti members of the four panchayats — are taking part in the awareness drive.

A meeting of people’s representatives, officials and police was held at the panchayat office of Kultapada to chalk out plans for the awareness drive,” Sahu said.

School students, women self-help group (SHG) members and anganwadi workers are also contributing to the drive.

A rally was taken out recently against animal sacrifice in Khairguda village. School students, SHG members and anganwadi workers from adjoining villages participated in it.

“We also distributed leaflets in nearby villages highlighting the evils of animal sacrifice,” Sahu said.

Kondh tribals of the area and members of the Sulia Budha Trust Board attended yet another meeting held at Khairguda village on Tuesday in which participants decided to make public appeal and organise cultural programmes against animal sacrifice in the villages.

A pala (traditional music) troupe will also perform in villages to create awareness.

Head priest of the Sulia Budha Trust Board Sankar Kuanr, however, said it was not possible to stop animal sacrifice abruptly as it was an age-old tradition and people of a certain communities have a sentimental attachment to the custom. “It will take time for people to understand that it is an evil practice,” he said.

A setback for the anti-animal sacrifice movement was that Sulia Sanskar Manch, which has been spearheading a movement against animal sacrifice at the Sulia festival for the last five years decided, to stay away this year.

Sources said that all the efforts of members of the manch to stop animal sacrifice had been in vain as the administration didn’t cooperate with them.