Diwali worshippers hurled stones at each other in a traditional festival.

Local men celebrated 'Pathron Ka Mela,' a unique century-old festival held after Diwali in Himachal Pradesh, India, on November 1.

Footage shows two groups of men - the Halog, representing the royal family, and Jamog, representing the villagers - throwing small rocks at each other.

The ritual ends when blood oozes from a wounded participant, which is then smeared on the forehead of a statue of the goddess Kali, a Hindu deity symbolising destruction, creation, time, and protection.

The event lasted for 15 minutes, with a man named Surinder from Jamog village sustaining minor injuries.

The fair takes place the day after Diwali and begins with a procession led by a priest from the Narsingh Devta temple to the Kali temple.

Jagdeep Singh, former ruler of Dhami, said: 'The festival continues until blood starts oozing from the wounds of the injured participants. The villagers then apply a tilak of this blood on the forehead of the goddess Kali.'