In Nepal alone, thousands of buffaloes are killed at the Gadhimai festival held once every 5 years. The event is attended by around 5 million people from Nepal and India, who believe that pleasing the goddess would help them prosper and ward off evil. Ritual sacrifice of the species is a common occurrence in India as well. Every year, hundreds of buffaloes--among other animals--are sacrificed to the goddess Kamakhya in Assam, India.