In a bizarre tradition, devotees suspend themselves from a wooden pole erected on a 35-feet tall scaffold.

As the wooden pole rotates, they spin around at a dizzying height to propitiate a local deity, ‘Gal Devta.’

The ritual is popular among the various tribes in the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh.

Once a year, the devotees observe the ‘Gal Devta’ ritual at fairs organised at different places in the days following popular festival, Holi.

Devotees wear red and white garments – favourite colours of the deity – and smear their faces with turmeric. They then walk around the tall scaffold, whose height may vary between 35 to 50 feet, and then climb to the top.

They are fastened to the wooden pole, which is spun around, with the help of a rope by other devotees.

‘Gal Devta’ ritual is popular among men though women are not barred from it.