Image Source: business-standard.com
In Old Delhi, Jains disguised themselves as Muslims to purchase 124 goats and rescue them from being sacrificed on Bakri-eid.
During the global Bakrid celebrations on June 17, an extraordinary event unfolded in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. Vivek Jain, a 30-year-old chartered accountant, and his team found themselves in the courtyard of a temple near Jama Masjid amidst hundreds of goats. They successfully raised Rs 15 lakh to rescue 124 goats from slaughter, as reported by The Print.
Bakrid, or Eid-ul-Adha, traditionally involves the sacrifice of animals such as sheep, goats, cows, or camels. However, Vivek and his team decided to intervene and provide sanctuary for these goats. They played Jain mantras over a speaker to calm the animals, explaining, “These goats are frightened because they believe they were gathered for slaughter. They don’t know that we’ve given them a new lease on life.”
Their initiative transformed the Naya Jain Mandir in Dharampur into a bustling hub reminiscent of goat markets during Bakrid. Many Jains from the area visited the temple to observe the goats, interact with them, and contribute towards their welfare, describing the event as a ‘goat darshan’ that enriched their spiritual practices.
Vivek expressed pride in their accomplishment, stating, “This is the essence of our religion. It’s a ‘historic moment’ for the Jain community of Chandni Chowk.”
The rescue effort involved meticulous planning, including a team of 25 Jain community members who conducted surveys in areas where goats are typically sold. They disguised themselves to blend in, as Chirag Jain, another community member, explained, “We posed as members of their [Muslim] community and inquired about the prices of goats.”
Vivek lamented the poor conditions in which the goats were kept, describing them as cramped and poorly handled. The team wore traditional attire and modified their speech to avoid revealing their identities, which could have led to inflated prices.
After negotiating intensely, they purchased the goats for approximately Rs 10,000 each. The funds for this rescue effort came from contributions by community members across Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Hyderabad, with the remaining funds allocated for purchasing fodder.
