The World's Largest "Festival" of Mass Slaughter Goes On Despite Ban

Yes, I'm talking about Gadhimai festival of Nepal which is celebrated once every 5 years.

About 250,000 animals including water buffaloes, pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits and pigeons are "sacrificed" within two days during this festival at a temple about 150 km from Kathmandu to please the Hindu Goddess Gadhimai.

But last time when it happened in 2014, I thought it was actually the last time it's taking place as in early 2015, temple committee members publicly declared to discontinue this mass slaughter after the efforts from several animal organizations and activists.
Not only this, Supreme Court of Nepal had also given an order to discourage and eventually end the animal slaughter at Gadhimai and other places in Nepal.

Supreme Court of India also directed to disallow animal trafficking across Nepal border during this festival. According to the news, this was actually implemented by strict monitoring and stopping of several unauthorized trafficking of animals for this festival this year.

However, thousands of animals started to arrive at Gadhimai from all over.

Temple authorities conveyed that they can request to not to offer animals but can't strictly force it upon devotees.

And about 200 butchers got prepared to start their "work" yesterday morning. I don't know how many lives will be taken away by the time this festival ends today but the strange thing about such a festival is that you can't even share its pictures on social media as most websites covers these pictures under some warning message!

What beautiful pictures of a "festival" that have to be hidden under an alert warning!!!
Can you really call it some festival?