Sacrifice: In the Name of Goddess Gadhimai

"Sacrifice: In the Name of Goddess Gadhimai" captures a week-long religious festival held in a remote village in Southern Nepal. Unbeknownst to most of the world, eight million Hindus travel here from throughout Asia once every five years to worship the Goddess Gadhimai. They chant, burn incense, ring bells, and cry at the stone deity's feet for five days. But this goddess wants blood, and the worshippers, most of whom are very poor, bring farm animals for sacrifice. Close to a half million buffalo, goats, and roosters are slaughtered. Finally, the people feast. This film captures for the first time the shocking ritual killing of these animals, the joy that comes from the prayers answered, and the need that drives the worshippers' belief.