New Delhi: In a significant move that will save the lives of millions of animals, the practice of sacrifice has been banned at Nepal's Gadhimai festival, the world's biggest animal sacrifice event held every five years.

The temple trust announced its decision today and urged all devotees not to bring animals to the festival, a religious practice which had been continuing for the last 300 years. "The Gadhimai Temple Trust hereby declares our formal decision to end animal sacrifice.