What Really Happens at the World’s Biggest Animal Sacrifice?
Amruta Ubale, Executive Director of Animal Equality India, has witnessed the world’s largest animal sacrifice.
At Nepal’s Gadhimai Festival, tens of thousands of buffaloes, goats, and other animals are killed every five years in the name of tradition. Amruta crossed into Nepal to document this brutality—facing angry crowds, police surveillance, and even assault—all attempts to silence her.
Since 2014, Animal Equality has worked to reduce the killings. Their efforts helped stop animal transports across the border, saving thousands of lives each year. But attempts at censorship never stopped: higher walls, blinding smoke, even officials beating the team.
Discover the full story: https://animalequality.org/blog/they-tried-to-silence-me-at-the-worlds-largest-animal-sacrifice/.
This isn’t just about Gadhimai. Factory farms around the world kill animals in even larger numbers, hidden behind walls of secrecy. Animal Equality has uncovered cruelty worldwide, and we need your help to continue.
Together, we can end cruelty defended as “tradition” or “culture” and build a future rooted in compassion.
From Nepal to the U.S., let’s be the voices they can’t silence.
Become a #MonthlySupporter today: https://ae.onl/organicvimeo-fallmdc2025.
Choose compassion with every plant-based meal: https://ae.onl/loveveg-organicvimeo.
Chapters:
0:00 Witness to the World’s Largest Animal Sacrifice
0:16 On the India–Nepal Border: A Dangerous Mission
0:48 Inside Gadhimai: Buffaloes and Goats Slaughtered
1:03 Returning Every Five Years to Expose the Truth
1:15 Censorship, Violence, and Attempts to Silence Us
1:39 Your Support Breaks the Silence for Animals
*ABOUT ANIMAL EQUALITY*
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Animal Equality is an international animal protection organization working in eight countries to end cruelty to farmed animals through undercover investigations, legal advocacy, corporate outreach, and public awareness about plant-based foods.
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Transcript (English — en)
I am a
witness to the
world's
largest animal
sacrifice.
I have been
inside the
Gadhimai festival,
where tens of
thousands of
animals
have been
slaughtered.
Every moment carried danger
because there was no limit
to what
will be done
to silence
animal
suffering.
In 2014,
our team went
to the India-Nepal border.
Following
our request,
the government
had just
introduced
a ban
on the
transport
of animals
across
the border
for the
purpose of
the festival.
We went there
to make sure
that that
promise
was kept.
Dozens began
to surround me
and the crowd
grew tense.
I could sense
that one
spark of anger
could
turn the crowd
violent.
The hostility
followed us
throughout
the festival.
Police
were ordered
to trail us
because
the risks were
so high.
But the animals
kept us going.
At the
festival
in Nepal,
buffaloes were
hacked to
death.
Goats were decapitated
with machetes.
And some
endured
sexual abuse.
We refuse
to turn
a blind eye
to this
cruelty.
We return to
the Gadhimai festival
every five
years to film
and expose
the animal
sacrifice.
We convince
attendees
not to
participate.
And we spared
thousands of lives
with the truth.
Over the
years,
the risks grew.
Taller walls
were built
around the enclosures.
Smoke was used
to blind us
and our
cameras.
Officials
began
beating our
team members
to prevent us
from filming.
But we did
not back down.
The forces behind animal cruelty
don’t want the world
to see what’s happening.
They hide the suffering.
They silence their cries.
And they hope you will
stay silent too.
But your
support is
your chance
to speak up
and speak out.
It gives
animals
a chance
to be heard
—through every
investigation,
campaign
or plant-based meal.
You have the power
to fuel
this fight against animal abusers.
Become a
monthly donor today
and break the silence.
Thank you for standing
with us to protect
animals from cruelty.