Jhatka

Jhatka, or Chatka, (jhàṭkā IPA: [tʃə̀ʈkɑ]) is meat from an animal that has been killed instantly, such as by a single strike of a sword or axe to sever the head, as opposed to ritualistically slow slaughter (kutha) in the halal method (dhabihah).

Jhatka is the method of meat production demanded by many Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians in India, while Halal is demanded by the Muslims, and Kosher by the Jews.

Etymology

Jhatka (Hindi: झटका jhaṭkā IPA: [dʒʰəʈkɑ]; Punjabi: ਝਟਕਾ (Gurmukhi), جھٹکا (Shahmukhi)) is derived from Sanskrit word Jhatiti (झटिति) which means "instantly, quickly, at once".

Hindus and jhatka

Historically and currently, those Hindus who eat meat seek jhatka meat.

In the diversity of Hinduism, many Hindus are vegetarians or vegans from their belief in Ahimsa (non-injury, non-violence), and to minimize suffering to all life forms, but there is no binding religious dietary law in Hinduism, and the choice is left to the Hindu. Many Shaivite and Shakta Hindus, for example, offer meat and liquor as part of certain ritual worship, and then consume the meat. During Durga Puja and Kali Puja among some Shaivite Hindus in Punjab, Mithila, Bengal, and Kashmir, Jhatka meat is the norm for those Shaivite Hindus who eat meat. In theory, most Western methods of animal slaughter for the purpose of meat production are done with an instant blow to the head which can be interpreted as ‘jhatka’ meat.