‘Hingot yuddh’ is a peculiar festival in Madhya Pradesh wherein warriors” from two sides hurl burning hingots at each other

The deadly centuries-old tradition of ‘hingot yuddh’ in parts of Madhya Pradesh. In this peculiar festival, “warriors” from two sides hurl burning hingots (a fruit, hard from the outside and hollow from inside, stuffed with gunpowder) at each other. Hingots are desert dates, but in this ritual, they are turned into deadly missiles.

Nobody wins or loses in this war and it ends with a few severely injured. Nobody knows when the tradition started either, but local lore says it is ancient. The fight is always held on Padwa (the day after Diwali). Preparations start at least three months in advance.
According to hingot fight rules, warriors are divided into two groups — Turra and Kalgi. Tension mounts as fighters and spectators wait for the sun to dip. With darkness looming, the whistle is blown. Men then start hurling burning hingots at each other.

Last year, a spectator died after being hit by a hingot and 36 were injured
This year, as talk of a ban on the event spread, angry villagers got together to put up posters that called for assembly election boycott.
This year their were 28 injured in this festival celebration.

The sight of hingots criss-crossing and sparks flying leaves one spellbound.
Hundreds travel from across the state to witness it. Some, obviously, end up getting very hurt. The administration never really gives permission for it, yet the event is organised each year by residents in the name of tradition. Police distribute pamphl