Owls being sacrificed in UP during Diwali to bring home the riches

Animals are sacrificed to appease the Gods and in UP, as Diwali approaches, the bird markets witness a very seasonal and very brutal trade in owls. This is done by some in the belief that if an owl is sacrificed in a house during Lakshmi puja, the goddess will be forced to "stay" with the family and bring in the riches.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 29 October 2016.

Much of this trade is routed through Agra, as revealed by wildlife activists. In the city, the birds costing upwards of Rs 30,000 each, can even be home delivered. Moreover, for the squeamish, the trader will sacrifice it for the believers.
In the opinion of wildlife activists, Agra is one of the major hubs for this trade and places like Korai-Karavili village, near Fatehpuri Sikri, and Kosi Kalan in Mathura are infamous for it.
These owls are sold at a premium and are brought in only after a specific demand is made. This demand is usually for black magic, or during the Diwali season for sacrifice. The birds are often delivered right to the buyer's doorstep due to which such transactions remains undocumented.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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