A controversial ritual in Channapatna, southern India, sees devotees force cattle to walk through fire.

Filmed during the Makar Sankranti festival on January 15, devotees decorate their cows with garlands bells before walking them through fire.

Performing the ritual, known as Kicchu Hayisuvudu, is believed to bring good fortune and protect the devotees from harm.

The festival has come under fire as some commentators claim the traditional ritual is cruel to animals.

Shocking rituals where cattle made to walk through fire to celebrate its first festival Makara Sankranti (also celebrated as Pongal, Lohri, Bihu in different parts of India), is a festival day in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to the deity Surya. But the people in Karnataka has some different tradition of this festival believe that an age-old tradition where locals in Karnataka decorate cows with garlands and bells and then make them walk over the fire which is popularly known as 'Kicchu Hayisuvudu' ritual. According to the ritual in the name of performing their age-old-tradition, the locals believe that this will ensure good fortune and protect them from harm. So the cattle's are made to walk on the massive flame of fire as shown in the photos and videos of the event in South Karnataka on Makara Sankranti evening (January 15).

This indigenous games of Karnataka – describe the incident where the villagers pamper the cows throughout the day on Makara Sankranti and are chased in the direction of the fire in the night. When the cows reach the fire row, these cows are made to jump over or walk through it. Adding on it the cows are only chased towards fire only on the night of Makara Sankranti while from the next day on-wards they are set free and graze in the open. The festival comes in line with the controversial Jallikattu, a traditional sport popular in Tamil Nadu where a bull is released into a crowd of people who have to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both their arms and hold on as long as they can. In recent days, these both traditional sport has been in debate for animal cruelty.

Filmed & DOP DURGESH KUMAR YELLAPPA
Megha India Photo Agency (Mipanews.com)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India