The News Minute | October 15, 2014 | 6.23 pm ISTThe Supreme Court has issued notices to the centre and some states over the smuggling of animals from India to Nepal for an animal sacrifice.According to a report in The Telegraph, animals are often smuggled into Nepal from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarkhand for the Gandhimai festival held at the end of November. The legend goes that a Nepali feudal lord offered an animal sacrifice to the Gadhimai goddess in exchange for her help in solving his problems. He is said to have sacrificed five animals. Today, buffaloes, pigs, goats, chicken, pigeons, ducks and rats are sacrificed to observe the ritual.Dehradun-based animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi approached the Supreme Court asking that ritual sacrifice violated Indian laws and the transportation of animals violated the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Despite orders to the Sashastra Seema Bal, the military force guarding the India-Nepal border to prevent the transportation of animals across the border, these were not implemented effectively.