Devotees hurled sticks and stones at each other during the Bagwal festival held in Champawat, northern India.

The festivities involve two groups of dancing and signing devotees pelting stones at each other, while trying to protect themselves with large wooden shields.

Footage from August 22 shows several participants were left with bloody faces after being struck by flying objects.

At least 75 people suffered injuries as devotees at Devidhura temple in Uttarakhand’s Champawat district pelted stones at each other for eight minutes to celebrate the annual ‘Bagwal' festival. The injured were later treated at a medical camp.
The festival is celebrated on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and blood is shed to appease the presiding deity, Barahi Devi. Four local clans Walik, Chamyal, Lamgaria, and Gaherwal participate in the ritual on the temple grounds every year.

Two groups then start throwing stones to each other and no matter how much injury has taken place, they won't stop until the priest ask them to do so after inspecting the proper amount of blood is shed for the goddess. Every year hundreds of devotees get injured at the festival.

This unique festival is celebrated in Devidhura village in the Champawat district in Uttrakhand on the day of Raksha Bandhan, which is located at a distance of 75km from Champawat district town.