The event involves large-scale sacrificial slaughter of animals, including water buffalo,[2] pigs, goats, chickens, and pigeons, with the goal of pleasing Gadhimai, the goddess of power.

[8][13][14][15] It is said that the festival originated when feudal lord Bhagwan Chaudhary dreamed that he could offer a blood sacrifice to the goddess Gadhimai in order to be freed from jail.

[13] Ram Bahadur Bomjon, claimed by some of his supporters to be the reincarnation of the Buddha, said that he would attempt to stop the sacrifice at the festival, preaching nonviolence and offering a blessing at the place.

Sacrificial animals included white mice, pigeons, roosters, ducks, swine, and male water buffalo.

In an interview with the Times of India, he said, "I am very pleased that we were able to sit down with the Nepali politicians, to speak up for the hundreds of thousands of innocent animals who are condemned to an utterly unjustified beheading at Gadhimai.

[28] The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs directed the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to monitor and make sure no animals got to Nepal for the festival.

[31] Nepal's temple trust announced the cancellation of all future animal sacrifices at the country's Gadhimai festival in July 2015.