Tribals celebrate Sulia Jatra, sacrifice hundreds of animals

Odisha Channel Bureau Balangir, Dec 30: Following a long tradition of animal sacrifice, hundreds tribal people belonging to the Kandha tribal community celebrated Sulia Jatra and sacrificed hundreds of animals before their presiding deity today.Although the administration had imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) that prohibits an assembly of more than ten people in an area, the tribals defied the ban and celebrated the annual Sulia Jatra at Khairguda village in this western Odisha district.The policemen and administration officials, however, did not make any effort to prevent the tribals from performing the traditional sacrifice.The tribals came in a procession and offered the animals for sacrifice before the deity defying imposition of Section 144 in the area.The people belonging to the Kandha tribe in the locality believe that it will bring success and prosperity to the community by offering blood to the Sulia god.The ritual of animal sacrifice takes place on the second Tuesday of the month of Pausa every year.The Jatra was organised by the Sulia Puja Committee with the help of the Zilla Adivasi Sangh of Balangir.