Pithoragarh: On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, more than 125 people received minor injuries during one of its kind stone-pelting fair ‘Bagwal’ in Varahi Devi temple in Devidhura of Champawat on Monday. Interestingly, during this festival, which once involved stone pelting as a ritual, groups of people now hurl fruits at each other.
Goddess is pleased only after blood, equivalent to a human sacrifice
The festival is celebrated annually on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, which falls on Shravan Purnima, to please Varahi Devi, the presiding deity in the temple at Devidhura village in Champawat district in Uttarakhand. According to the main priest of this temple, Kirti Ballabh Shastri, the roots of this tradition can be traced back to the ancient times when human sacrifice was a part of worship to Goddesses. The Devidhura villagers believe that the goddess is pleased only after blood, equivalent to a human sacrifice, is shed during the sport.
Over 125 people received minor injuries
On Monday, devotees turned up in large numbers at the Devidhura temple in Champawat district and hurled fruits on each other to celebrate Bagwal. It started at 2.06 pm and concluded at 2.16 pm and more than 500 people participated in this festival. CMO Champawat, Dr Devesh Chauhan said, “More than 125 people received minor injuries and one person has been referred to Haldwani government hospital for further treatment.”
Earlier stones were used during the festival
According to the head priest Joshi, “Earlier, stones were used during the festival but after the intervention of Uttarakhand high court in 2013, now the temple committee conducts this festival with other substitutes like fruits and flowers to save people from injuries. Although there is a high court ban on the use of stones during the festival, locals manage to sneak in with stones, hoodwinking the authorities.
CM Dhami also participated in this unique festival
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami also participated in this festival. He said, “This Bagwal fair is a confluence of our folk culture, faith and traditions and It is the duty of all of us to carry forward folk culture and traditions from generation to generation.” On this occasion, the Chief Minister offered a bell at Maa Varahi temple and prayed for the prosperity and progress of the state. The Chief Minister witnessed the world-famous stone war played with fruits and flowers between two groups.