Hundreds of thousands of Hindus gathered in southern Nepal for a notorious ritual slaughter of animals and birds, Times of India reported on Tuesday.

The ritual known as the largest sacrificial slaughter of animals in the world sparked protests by animal rights activists, including French actress Brigitte Bardot, and livestock experts. The experts warn that the massacre could cause an outbreak of such diseases like goat plague, swine flu and bird flu.

However, Nepal's government refused to ban the massacre calling it a centuries-old tradition.

The local Maoist MP, Shiv Chandra Kushwaha told Times of India, "We can't stop them because it is a religious sentiment."

He said about 15,000 buffalo will be killed Tuesday and on Wednesday, the number of slaughtered goats, roosters and pigeons will run into hundreds of thousands.

The bloody festival is celebrated every five years in a temple in southern Nepal to honor the Hindu goddess Gadhimai.

The temple authorities have built a new slaughter house while a huge pit has been dug to bury the heads of the butchered animals.

Participants believe cutting the animals' throats with swords will stop their sufferings and bring prosperity.

MOSCOW, November 24 (RIA Novosti)