On August 19, Monday People in northern India celebrated Bagwal Mela, which is a festival marked by throwing stones.
Villagers of Devidhura from Uttarakhand state celebrated Bagwal Mela engaging in battle with stones, sticks and shields made of wood leaving many with bloodied faces and bandaged heads.During the celebration, the worshippers, in four different groups called “khams,' throw stones at one another, until the priest calls them to stop after ensuring that enough blood has been shed for the goddess Maa Barahi.The battle commences after the Puja ritual ceremony has been completed, whereafter worshippers enter the temple with their weapons and move around the temple in song and dance.A popular ritual of Raksha Bandhan day, the Bagwal Mela festival is mostly known for its annual ritual of 'stone-pelting’.The fight which only lasts for ten minutes takes long enough to injure participants that are attended to in hospitals and clinics in the region.Around 200 people of the participants were injured with most suffering injuries to the face, head and leg.