Sankranthi: Why should animals suffer in the name of tradition?

This tradition is followed especially in the rural areas of Mysuru and Mandya districts of Karnataka. According to the people, the cows and oxen are made to leap through the fire as they believe the heat of fire will kill all the germs on their the body. The belief is also that it will prevent the animals from falling prey to foot and mouth disease.

The age-old tradition was started as there was no proper medicine to kill the germs on the body of cows and oxen. But currently, at a time, when there is vaccinations and medicines available for all kinds of diseases and even for prevention, why is this painful practice being continued in the name of tradition? It looks like people take their animals for granted. In the name of traditions and citing examples from the history of hundreds of years, still, continue to harm the poor animals. When asked, everyone has a stereotypical answer that these animals are like their family and they are taken care of just like a family member.

Now, be it Jallikattu, cockfight (popular in Karnataka as well as Andhra Pradesh) or making the bull leap through the fire it is surely painful for the animals/birds you have reared with love and care. Tamil Nadu held Jallikattu and Andhra Pradesh held cockfight despite a ban on these sports. So far, there is no ban on the practice making these animals leap through the fire. But the common logic that it hurts the animal must be an enough reason for people to stop this practice. Makara Sankranthi is also known as the festival of prosperity, people put colourful decorations (rangoli) in front of their houses, get decked themselves and also decorate their cows and oxen.

Of course, let us continue to celebrate festivals in the ways which do not harm people nor harm the animals. Let the tradition of Kicchu Hayisuvudu be replaced with a ramp walk (as the bulls are decorated), followed by mass vaccination, which serves the purpose and the cows and oxen are also saved from the painful practice.

• Kicchu Hayisuvudu
• animal rights
• Jallikattu
• bull leaping on fire