Residents of the Tamil Nadu village of Gumatapura have a bizarre pastime that is India's answer to Spain's famous "La Tomatina" but with a bizarre twist.

Footage from November 17 shows the odd tradition named "Goraihabba" where many smear cow dung over themselves and throw it at one another.

The dung of about 3,000 cattle in Gumatapura and surrounding villages were piled up in heaps on which they held handfuls and splashed on one other.

The ritual has been followed in the village for over three centuries, people believe that their ancestors noticed blood oozing from a "linga" idol that was concealed inside a heap of cow dung.

They believe that a spirit asked the people to celebrate the third day after Deepavali with cow dung.

Participants later took a bath, they believe the splashing of cow dung cleanses the body and they will be blessed.

In the small village of Gumatapura in Chamarajanagar district, villagers throw cow dung on each other and smear themselves with the dung during a day-long festival immediately after Deepavali. The festival is locally known as ‘Goraihabba’ and involves the villagers throwing and putting cow dung on each other after collecting it from all cattle farmers.

The dung of about 3,000 cattle in Gumatapuraim and surrounding villages were piled up in heaps on which they held handfuls and splashed on one other. The ritual is followed in the village for over three centuries as people believe that their ancestors noticed blood oozing from a ‘linga’ idol that was concealed inside a heap of cow dung. They believe that a spirit asked the people to celebrate the third day after Deepavali with cow dung.

Participants kept splashing cow dung for over an hour and later took bath in the tank after which the festival came to an end. Villagers believe the splashing of cow dung will cleanse the body and that they will be blessed by the deity. The village is located at the Tamil Nadu – Karnataka border which has predominantly Kannada-speaking people and the annual festival is held amidst a large gathering.