Decades of Ritual Slaughter with Heart: Eko and Sacrificial Animals

Supardihan, known as Eko (53), has spent almost half his life as a ritual slaughterer. He began the profession in 1998 after frequently accompanying his father to slaughter animals. Initially, Eko was only allowed to slaughter small goats to hone his skills. Blood on the floor during slaughter no longer disgusts or frightens him. For Eko, being a slaughterer is more than just killing animals. He views the work as spiritually significant, as adhering to religious rites is believed to affect the quality of the meat. ‘We must get the religious rituals right—the recitations, the cutting motions. So the meat doesn’t end up… well, it has to be done properly to ensure it’s fragrant,’ Eko said after slaughtering a cow and goats at Pondok Indah Mosque in South Jakarta on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. Eko typically performs slaughters for religious events such as Eid al-Adha and aqiqah ceremonies. Wherever the job is, he strives to respond to calls as long as it’s within reach from his home in Bogor Regency. In his work, Eko says he must give his full heart and effort, and feels the need to form a spiritual bond with the animals being slaughtered. ‘It’s similar to regular work, but this is different—it’s an honour, and it’s truly a task from the Almighty,’ he said. Even at nearly 54, Eko finds it hard to refuse his employer’s requests. He once considered quitting but has yet to leave the job. Eko feels comfortable interacting with animals, something he believes not everyone can do. He considers it a blessing to form such bonds with the animals. ‘We must love the animal we slaughter. So the animal feels it, our hearts must be sincere towards it, and it must be sincere in return,’ Eko said. He plans to pass his knowledge to his son, just as he learned it from his father.