インドで雄牛の葬式に２００人、新型コロナで全土封鎖の中

【チェンナイＡＦＰ＝時事】インド全土で新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大によりロックダウン（都市封鎖）が実施されている中、数々のレースで優勝し、「神」とあがめられた雄牛の死を悼み、約200人が参加して葬式が行われた。当局者が16日、明らかにした。（写真はインド南部タミルナド州マドゥライで行われた牛の葬式に集まる人々）
　「ムーリ」と呼ばれた雄牛は１２日、南部タミルナド州の村で老衰のため死んだ。雄牛は少なくとも２０歳を超えていたという。村人らは、葬列や盛大な埋葬式、花火の打ち上げなどを敢行した。生前活躍した動物の葬式を行うことはインドでは珍しくなく、特に地方では大掛かりな儀式が行われることがある。
　一方、インド当局によると、同州では新型ウイルスの感染者が１２４２人、死者が１４人に上っている。ロックダウンにより５人以上の集会が禁止されている中、警察はこれに違反した村人７人についての告訴を受理した。
　米ジョンズ・ホプキンス大学の集計によると、インドではこれまでに少なくとも１万２０００人が新型ウイルスに感染、４００人以上が死亡している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/04/20-12:59）

Some 200 mourners defied India's national coronavirus lockdown to pay their last respects to a bull adored for his race-winning heroics and revered as a deity, an official said Thursday.
Mooli died of old age on Sunday, sparking an outpouring of grief -- including a funeral procession and lavish burial ceremony, complete with fireworks -- in a village in southern Tamil Nadu state.
The state has so far reported 1,242 cases of the virus with 14 deaths, according to official data, and is under lockdown to stem COVID-19's spread.
But some 200 people came to bid the bull -- who villagers claimed was at least 20 years old -- a final goodbye, said P. Rajasekaran, president of the local Jallikattu Peravai Association.
Initially only 30-50 people participated in the burial, and then later to pay their last respects around 100-200 assembled, local official T.G. Vinay told AFP.
They didn't assemble at one point but they kept walking in, paying their last respects, praying and then leaving.
Police have registered a complaint against seven villagers for violating a ban on gatherings of more than five people, because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The bull -- also a star at festivals where villagers try to hold the beasts' humps and run -- enjoyed a special status as he was attached to a local temple and revered as a deity, villagers said.
Local media reports said admirers of the animal brought garlands, towels and bundles of cash as gifts for his sendoff.
Women cried when they heard when the bull died. The villagers were very sad, said resident Kalubambarai, who goes by one name.
He added if a lockdown wasn't in place, the funeral would be like a huge carnival.
Funerals for celebrated animals are not uncommon, especially in rural India where they are accorded grand burials.
India has had at least 12,000 confirmed cases with more than 400 deaths so far, according to the US Johns Hopkins tally.
A national lockdown is in place across India until May 3, although some restrictions will be eased after April 20.