Sneha, a kind-hearted 14-year-old girl from Kolkata, lived with her parents. Despite being born into a Bengali family, she had never developed a taste for non-vegetarian food. During Dussehra, Sneha visited her grandparents' village in West Bengal. The family reunion was filled with joy and warmth.
The next day, they visited a nearby Devi temple, where Sneha noticed goats tied with ropes. Curious, she asked her mother about them. "They will be sacrificed in front of the deity tomorrow," her mother replied. Sneha's eyes widened. "Sacrifice? What's a sacrifice, Maa?" Her mother explained, "They will be offered to the goddess." Sneha's curiosity turned to concern. "But what will the goddess do with these goats, Maa?" Her mother hesitated before responding, "They will be slaughtered in front of the goddess." Sneha was shocked and on the verge of tears. "Why, Maa? What's their fault? Why do they have to be killed?" Her grandmother intervened, "Don't say such things, Sneha. The goddess will be angry." "But why will the goddess be angry? Why does she want these innocent animals to be killed? Maa, you always tell me that the goddess is the mother and protector of all living beings. Then how can she kill her children like this?? This is wrong."
Sneha's grandmother looked taken aback by her questions. "Sneha, this is a tradition that has been passed down for generations. It's a way of showing devotion to the goddess." But Sneha was not convinced. "Devotion? How can killing innocent animals be devotion? That's not what you taught me, Maa. You taught me that kindness and compassion are the most important things." Her mother looked at her with a mixture of sadness and understanding. "Sneha, I know this is hard to understand. But sometimes, traditions and customs can be complicated. Maybe we can talk to the priest or someone who can explain it better." Sneha shook her head firmly. "I don't want to talk to anyone. I just know that this is wrong. We should be protecting animals, not hurting them." That night, Sneha barely slept, her mind racing with thoughts of the impending sacrifice. As morning dawned, she felt a surge of determination.
"No, I have to do something," she whispered to herself. "I won't let this happen. I won't let the innocent animals die like this." Without hesitation, Sneha rushed to the temple, driven by a fierce resolve to save the animals. Sneha reached the temple, her heart racing with anticipation. As she approached the area where the animals were tied, she felt a pang of sorrow. The innocent creatures seemed lifeless, their eyes dull and resigned, as if they sensed their impending fate. Sneha's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at the helpless animals. "How can humans be so heartless?" she wondered, her mind filled with anguish and despair. Just as Sneha was about to free the animals, the priest shouted, "Hey girl, what are you doing?" He walked towards her, looking angry. Sneha stood tall, her hands folded, and said boldly, "pandit ji, are you going to kill these animals?" The priest scowled. "Kill? What are you talking about? This is sacrifice, an age-old tradition." Sneha looked at him firmly. "That's exactly what I'm talking about. You can't just kill them!" The priest waved his hand. "Go home, child. You don't understand." "No, I won't let them die like this," Sneha said firmly. "You're a priest, and it's surprising you're supporting this. There are many other things you can offer to the goddess. Why must it be innocent animals?" The priest sighed.
"This is a tradition, child. The goddess demands a life as a gift. In return, she will bless the villagers." Sneha's voice rose in outrage. "What! I don't believe people still follow such practices. If killing a human is a sin, why isn't killing an animal? Just because they can't speak or defend themselves?" "Okay, if your goddess wants a life, why don't you sacrifice your own life or that of your relatives?" Sneha asked, her voice firm. "Did she specifically tell you to sacrifice these innocent animals?" By this time, a crowd had gathered, including Sneha's family members. They urged her to return home, but she refused. The priest and other temple members grew angry. "You foolish girl, you don't know the wrath of the goddess," one of them warned. "If she gets angry, you can't imagine the consequences. Leave now before something happens." Sneha stood firm. "No, I won't leave. If the goddess wants to punish me for saving these innocent creatures, I'll happily accept it." The priest ordered Sneha's parents to take her away and instructed the slaughterers to prepare the animals for sacrifice. But Sneha rushed into the temple and sat before the goddess. "Devi Maa, I beg of you," she said, her voice trembling.
"How can you, as a mother, allow your children to be slaughtered mercilessly? If you truly desire a life, take mine, but please spare the animals."
Everyone was stunned by Sneha's courage as she stood ready to sacrifice her own life to save the animals. The priest ordered the slaughter to proceed, but Sneha shouted, "No, please stop!" Just then, a strong gust of wind blew, and the temple bells rang out loudly. Amidst the chaos, a little boy slipped out of the crowd and freed the animals. They scattered in all directions. The priest and others shouted, "Stop the animals! The goddess will be angry!" But it was too late. Another temple member intervened, "The sacrifice time has passed. It's over."
The priest turned to Sneha, his face red with anger. "You know what you've done? You've made the goddess angry. This wind is proof of her wrath. Now, the entire village will face the consequences of your mistake." Sneha smiled serenely and said, "I'm prepared to accept any punishment for the sake of these innocent lives. But I believe you're mistaken, pandit ji. The Goddess isn't angry; she's pleased. The temple bells, ringing loudly, are a call to awaken, to rise above ignorance. If someone had spoken out against this cruel tradition earlier, countless lives would have been saved.
Sneha's voice grew stronger,
"Instead of sacrificing the innocent animals, you should sacrifice your ego, your stubbornness, and your ignorance. That's the true sacrifice the Goddess desires."
The crowd remained still, mesmerized, including the priest. Sneha bowed her head respectfully before the temple and walked away, her dignity and conviction intact. The priest stood frozen, his eyes fixed on Sneha as if he was in a trance, his mind struggling to process the events that had just unfolded. Sneha's bravery sparked a wave of change in the village, inspiring others to speak out against cruelty and injustice. Her voice became a beacon of hope for the voiceless, proving that even the smallest actions can make a big difference.