Kathmandu, Nov. 19 -- Mahagadimai Municipality of Bara district is preparing for an influx of millions of visitors next month for the practice of mass animal sacrifice that has tarnished Nepal's image of a peaceful and compassionate nation.

The little town of Bariyapur has gained international notoriety for the Gadimai Mela where pilgrims from India and Nepal who have their wishes fulfilled congregate every five years to offer mass animal sacrifice in gratitude. But the blood-letting has also sparked outrage and activists got Nepal's Supreme Court to rule against the wanton killings in 2016.

"There are so many animals, and many are not even beheaded cleanly because the knives are blunted by the mass slaughter. Sometimes they have to ha...