A stone-pelting festival took place despite authorities denying permission amid the COVID-19 pandemic in central India’s Madhya Pradesh.

The event took place on Wednesday (August 19) in the city of Pandhurna.

Known locally as Gotmar Mela, this unusual festival is celebrated annually, on the second day of Bhadrapad, a Hindu festival.

Despite a ban by authorities, a large number of people gathered on both sides of the river flowing between Pandhurna and Savargaon and stoned each other.

According to local reports, over 100 people were injured.

Sixty five kilometers from Chhindwara, in the headquarters of ‘Pandhurna’ tehsil a unique fair by name ‘Gotmar Mela’ is celebrated every year on the second day to ‘Bhadrapad’ New Moon day.
The Gotmar fair, like every year, was held on 19.08.2020 in Pandhurna town of Chhindwara district. Gotmar means stone pelting. despite the prohibition by the administration due to corona epidimic, a large number of people gathered on both sides of the river flowing between Pandhurna and Savargaon during the fair and stoned each other to get the flag. When the police wanted to stop, the people also attacked the police party and the vehicle.