Diwali may be a festival of lights, but a dark shadow hangs over owls in India.

For these nocturnal birds, the party is not as bright as they often fall victim to superstitious beliefs and rituals, especially in small towns and villages.

People search for them all night, from forests to places where they are supposed to be.

A month before Diwali, the demand for owls in the illegal bird market increases, with prices ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000.

Illegal trade in owls

In small towns and villages, the parts of an owl – the skull, feathers, ear tufts, claws, heart, liver, kidneys, blood, eyes, fat, beak, tears, eggshells, meat and bones – are used for a variety of things. pujas and ceremonial rituals, especially during
Diwali.

According to a 2018 study on illegal trafficking of nocturnal birds conducted by wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, 15 of the 30 species of owls found in the country are traded illegally.

“These birds are poached for their bones, talons, skulls, feathers, meat and blood, which are then used in talismans, black magic and traditional medicine. Owls, especially those with ears, are believed to possess the greatest magical powers. Diwali is considered the most auspicious time for owl sacrifices,” the report said. Down to earth.

According to WWF IndiaOwl species often found in the illegal wildlife trade are the Asian Barred Owl Glaucidium cuculoides, Barn Owl Tyto alba, Brown Owl Ketupa zeylonensis, Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata, Barred Owl Strix leptogrammica , the Collared Owl Glaucidium brodiei, the Collared Owl Otus bakkamoena, Dusky Eagle Owl Bubo coromandus, Herbivorous Owl Tyto longimembris, Jungle Owl Glaucidium radiatum, Marbled Wood Owl Strix ocellata, Oriental Screech Owl Otus sunia, Eagle-Owl Bubo bengalensis, Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl Bubo nipalensis, Spotted Owl Athene brama and Spotted Owl Ketupa flavipes.

Satish Pande, the founder of Ela Foundation, said India Times that it is difficult to determine how many owls are being killed or smuggled into India because there has never been an accurate census of owls.

“According to some reports, 70,000 to 80,000 owls are killed or exploited each year. The numbers are higher during Diwali and Laxmi puja in some places,” Pande told the publication.

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Superstitions and beliefs

Owls are associated with many superstitious and contrary concepts.

Some Hindus believe that Goddess Lakshmi rides an owl, while others say she rides an elephant with the owl. It is said that if Goddess Laxmi Vahan or if the vehicle is killed when she visits your house on Diwali, she will not be able to leave and wealth and prosperity will always stay with you.

Owls are also associated with death, misfortune or bad luck. Another school of thought says that wherever Goddess Lakshmi goes, she is accompanied in a different form by the inauspicious Alakshmi, her elder twin sister, who is considered to be her shadow in the face. As a result, believers kill the owl because they perceive it as a symbol of this unlucky form.

Traditional healers and priests are also responsible for the growing demand for raptor body parts. They deceive people into believing that by consuming or using the body parts of birds in rituals, they can be cured of illnesses or negative effects.

Pande said Printing about an incident in which he saw young boys using a catapult to carry an owl in a bag to a remote village in Maharashtra. When asked, they replied that they intended to consume the owl’s eyes in order to find the hidden treasure.

“The segment of society that believes in these myths is usually attracted to scammers or superstitions in rural areas,” Pande said.

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Sacrifice rituals

According to the Puranas, owls are ideal for Tantra Sadhana because of their ability to endure even the most severe circumstances. There are many tales in the Owl Tantra and Tantric Sadhana books.

According to one of the most famous stories, King Daksha conducted a yagna in Haridwar without invoking Lord Shiva. The lack of respect angered Lord Vishnu, who punished the Brahmins with inadequate education. When Bhrigu Rishi stepped on Vishnu’s chest in revenge, Goddess Lakshmi cursed the Brahmins with poverty and lack of food.

Gautam Rishi designed Uluk Tantra to break this curse. Goddess Lakshmi and Vishnu were pleased with his efforts and lifted the curse. Since then, owls have been worshiped during Diwali by Gautam Gotra followers.

Tantric rites based on the owl, notably Maran And vashikaranstart about a month before. Many books provide in-depth explanations of sadhana techniques.

The owl is housed for almost a month and fed meat and alcohol in preparation for the nightly Diwali ceremonies. The owl is sacrificed on Diwali and its body parts are arranged in various places. They are kept in areas where people gather because their eyes are believed to have hypnotic qualities. Its beak is believed to defeat enemies and its legs are kept in a safe.

SOS Wildlife reports that during Diwali, the Rock Owl or Eagle Owl is most in demand. In the days leading up to the festival, illegal bird sellers sell each owl for between Rs 4,000 and Rs 10,000, depending on the weight, color and other attributes of the bird.

Importance of Owls in Various Cultures

In India and all over the world, people believe that owls are intelligent because of their round, firm eyes.

The owl is worshiped as Choka-Dhola and recognized as the ‘Circular-Eyed Lord’ in the Puri of Odisha. The Puranas describe the goddess Lakshmi sitting atop a large white owl. As a result, an owl is never driven out of Bengali homes.

In ancient Greece, it represented the goddess of wisdom, Athena. With a staggering 85% success rate in collecting prey, these birds are considered intelligent and skilled hunters. They are directly associated with wealth, success, and good and bad omens in many Greek and Asian cultures.

Drew Meyer, an expert in wildlife ecology, according to News18, claims that because owls can see in the dark, which humans cannot, they are frequently connected to Jesus. This skill functions as a metaphor for the owl’s function in pointing us toward the truth in the midst of crime and darkness.

Protected birds

India is home to around 36 of the over 250 species of owls found in the world.

They inhabit diverse environments, including forests and deserts, as well as human settlements in the majority of regions around the world. However, due to their nocturnal habits, they are difficult to spot even though they are widespread.

Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, protects all species of Indian owls, making it illegal to capture, hunt, trade or otherwise use them. Their international trade is also prohibited.

With the contribution of agencies