A post-Diwali event where people throw stones at each other in Himachal

Tribune Web Desk 
Chandigarh, November 8

Like every year, Dhami residents kept the century-old tradition alive by celebrating ‘Pathron ka Mela’, a stone-pelting event, a day after Diwali.

The mela is held a day after the Festival of Lights at Dhami village in which two groups of villagers indulge in stone-throwing at each other.

The stone-throwing comes to an end only after someone from either of the group is wounded and starts bleeding.

The injured person smears a ‘tilak’ on the forehead of the idol of Goddess Kali with his or her blood.

While others call it a ‘cruel’ act, the villagers are enthusiastic and turn up in large numbers to celebrate the festival.

The locals line up on the grassy slopes and pelt stones at the royal family members after the arrival of the deity from the Nara Singh and Kali Devi Temple housed in Dhami’s palace.

The two groups comprise those representing the erstwhile royal family of Dhami (Dagoi, Turnu, Kateru and Jatheru villages) and residents of the Jamogi area).

Getting injured is considered auspicious as the blood of the “tilak” is smeared on the forehead of Goddess Kali.

The ritual started after the practice of ‘human sacrifice’ to appease the Goddess was stopped by the erstwhile rulers of Dhami.