Activists gather at Jantar Mantar to rally against animal sacrifice, exploitation

Dozens of animal rights activists gathered at Jantar Mantar on Saturday to protest against animal sacrifice and the exploitation of animals in all forms, just days ahead of Eid al-Adha.

Holding banners reading “Ban Animal Sacrifice” and “No God Wants Blood,” the demonstrators raised slogans condemning animal abuse and urging the public to adopt a cruelty-free lifestyle.

The protest, marked by powerful visuals—some activists painted their faces to resemble animals with red markings on their necks to depict slaughter—was aimed at raising awareness about what the demonstrators called “morally unjustifiable violence” against animals.

“Our message is simple: slaughtering animals, whether for qurbani, meat, eggs, dairy, or any other reason, is unnecessary and wrong. We are not targeting any particular religion or festival. This is a call to end all forms of animal abuse,” said activist Pinki Sharma while speaking to The Tribune.

Activist Manjira, another organiser of the protest, addressed the common criticism that the movement selectively targets specific religious practices. “Some people question why we protest against qurbani but not against dairy or meat industries. The truth is, we oppose all forms of animal exploitation. One wrong doesn’t justify another. Whether it’s animal sacrifice, dairy, honey, or animal testing, the underlying issue is the same—exploitation of sentient beings,” she said.

The protest also spotlighted the concept of speciesism, the belief that humans are superior to other animals and thus entitled to exploit them.

“Our society conditions us to see animals as commodities. But it’s time we reject this mindset,” said activist Mohini Sharma. The protestors emphasised that their movement is rooted in compassion and justice for all sentient beings.