Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Thousands Attend Monkey's Funeral Feast in MP
In a unique tradition, thousands of villagers in Madhya Pradesh held a funeral feast for a monkey they believed was an incarnation of Lord Hanuman.
The monkey was electrocuted, and twelve days later, villagers performed human-like funeral rites and held a large feast with food made from five quintals of flour, 40 kilograms of sev, and other dishes.
They also held a similar event in 2022 for another monkey, showing that this is not an isolated incident.
Over 4,000 villagers attended a 'mrityu bhoj' for a monkey in Rajgarh, MP
Monkey was treated as an incarnation of Lord Hanuman and given human-like funeral rites
Feast included 'puris', sev, buttermilk curry, and other vegetarian dishes
Similar incidents have occurred in the past, with villagers treating monkeys as sacred
Monkey was electrocuted by a high-tension power line twelve days before the feast
- Who
- Villagers in Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh
- What
- Attended a monkey's funeral feast
- When
- November 2023 (and 2022)
- Where
- Rajgarh district, Madhya Pradesh
- Why
- Believed the monkey was an incarnation of Lord Hanuman
Villagers' Perspective
Animal Rights Activists' Perspective
Treatment of Monkeys
Villagers' Perspective
Villagers consider monkeys sacred and treat them as family members when they die.
Animal Rights Activists' Perspective
Animal rights activists argue that this is a misguided practice that devalues the lives of monkeys and encourages human-like treatment of animals.
- Monkey's Cause of Death
- Electrocution by high-tension power line
- Number of Attendees
- Over 4,000
- Funds Raised
- Nearly one lakh rupees
- Food Prepared
- Five quintals of flour, 40 kg sev, 100 litres buttermilk, one quintal sugar, and various vegetarian dishes
- Distance of Attendees
- Within a 30-35 km radius
