Daijiworld Media Network - Champawat (SHP)

Champawat (Uttarakhand), Aug 16: Over 120 people were reportedly injured in the annual Bagwal 'stone pelting' festival. The festival is celebrated every year on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan to appease goddess Barahi Devi.

The temple of goddess Barahi Devi is located in Devidhura of Champawat district.

Elders of the village state that in the past the ritual involved human sacrifices. However, people now throw stones at each other with a view to draw same amount of blood equivalent to a human sacrifice. The Bagwal festival draws to a close only after a signal is given by the head priest.

"According to legend, an old woman, who was required to sacrifice her only grandson, pleaded with the goddess to spare him. Her prayers were accepted by the goddess, who appeared in her devotees dreams. She asked them to play Bagwal instead, which involved pelting each other with stones to shed as much blood on the ground which can be considered equivalent to a human sacrifice," the head priest said.

The festival that took place on Thursday, lasted for 10 minutes. As per tradition, four local feudal lords; Chamyal, Gaharwal, Olgiya and Lamgaria were divided into two groups, after which both groups start throwing stones at each other. Although, there is a high court ban on the usage of stones in the festival, locals manage to trick the authorities and perform the festival.