On the day after Diwali, villagers in a town in central India toss their children in cow dung for good luck and to mark the Hindu festival of Govardhan Pooja.

Footage filmed on November 5 in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, shows local villagers creating a pile of cow dung in the village and offering pooja and performing rituals. Village men and women perform a traditional dance around the pile and then the babies are dropped one by one for good luck.

A day after Diwali, villagers in the Betul town in Madhya Pradesh toss their children in cow dung on Govardhan Pooja day for good luck. The villagers believe that tossing their children in cow dung would turn out to be beneficial as it helps in keeping them away from diseases and many sorts of ailments.

Footage filmed on 5th November in Betul shows local villagers creating a pile of cow dung in the village and offering pooja and performing rituals. Village men and women perform a traditional dance around the pile and then the babies are dropped one by one for good luck.

The age-old ritual takes place a day after Diwali on Govardhan pooja. The tradition has been practiced for centuries and the locals say that it has benefited their children. The cow is considered one of the most sacred animals and holds utmost importance in Hinduism.