Jhatka, or Jhataka (càṭkā, Punjabi: [tʃə̀ʈkɑ], jhaṭkā, Hindi: [dʒʱəʈkɑ]), is the meat from an animal killed by a single strike of a sword or axe to sever the head within the Sikh religion, which kills the animal almost instantly as opposed to other forms of slaughter. This type of slaughter is preferred by most Rajputs, Sikhs, as well as meat-consuming Hindus and Buddhists. Also within this method of butchering the animal must not be scared or shaken before the slaughter.