Buddha boy makes appeal for animals

KATMANDU, Nepal: A Nepalese teenager revered by many as a reincarnation of Buddha has asked organizers to stop a Hindu festival where some 200,000 buffaloes, pigs, goats, chicken and pigeons are to be slaughtered, his followers said this week.

Ram Bahadur Bamjan made the appeal in connection with the Gadhimai festival, which is celebrated every five years in southern Nepal and attended by people from both Nepal and India.

Raju Shah, a member of the committee that runs Bamjan's affairs, said on Thursday that the spiritual leader - who rarely meets visitors - met with organizers of the festival and made the request. When they refused, Bamjan decided he will visit the area during the festival and appeal directly to the people to stop the sacrifices.