The festival believed to be the largest animal-sacrifice ritual in the world has kicked off Friday in southern Nepal. Followers sacrifice thousands of animals to bring good luck and in the hopes that a Hindu goddess will grant wishes. So far, more than 5,000 buffaloes have been killed, and many more rats, chickens, pigeons, goats, and pigs are expected to die over the two-day festival in the jungles south of Kathmandu. The festival is held every five years, and the last time, 2009, saw an estimated 200,000 animals and birds sacrificed.