209-year-old Hooghly Kali Puja follows Swami Vivekananda's path, shuns animal sacrifice

The Hangseswari Kali Puja in Hoogly's Bansberia, a 200-year-old festival, has decided to stop animal sacrifices. The decision was made unanimously by the Deb Ray family who maintains the Hangseswari Kali temple. Scholars and traditionalists welcomed the decision, citing Swami Vivekananda's role in stopping animal sacrifice at the Kali Puja in Belur Math. The practice of animal sacrifice has been nurtured for ages, but perspectives are changing, and alternatives like bananas and pumpkins are now being sacrificed instead. Experts believe that religion should adapt to social developments and protect animals for ecological balance.