Cows are made to walk and jump across a fire during a controversial Hindu celebration in Channapatana, India.

The Makara Sankranti festival is very popular across the country, however, the Karnataka state's residents take inspiration from an old ritual called Kicchu Hayisuvudu. Back in time, locals used to decorate cows with garlands and bells and made them walk through the fire.

Devotees believe that this will bring good fortune and protection from harm.

The Kicchu Hayisuvudu celebration is widely criticised by animal activists.

Shocking rituals where cattle are 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 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).

These 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 onwards 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, both traditional sports have been in debate for animal cruelty.

Filmed & DOP DURGESH KUMAR YELLAPPA