Mass gathering for stoning ritual at Devidhura

At a distance of 45 km from Lohaghat in the Champawat district of Uttarakhand, Devidhura is famous for its Barahi temples. A very unusual fair, which attracts people from Kumaon, Nepal, and even other places, is held every year at the temple of Barahi Devi on Raksha Bandhan or rakhi day. During this festival, known as Bagwal, two groups of dancing and singing people throw stones at each other, while they try to protect themselves with the help of large
wood-and-cane shields. The participants don't care about the injuries as the injuries are believed to be auspicious. It is also worth noticing that there had been no loss of life till today during this unusual fair.

The Barahi Mata temple is very famous here. Lots of people come to this temple. Even more unusually, at this temple people give bali or sacrifice goat and buffaloes. Another fair is held on the day of Maha Shivrat or Shivratri.

The Devidhura Fair is held on the day of Raksha Bandhan at the Barahi Devi Temple. A unique feature of the fair is the image of the goddess which kept in a locked brass casket. This casket is taken in a procession to a nearby mountain spring where a blindfolded priest
ritually bathes the image and replaces it in the casket.

The whole night the Goddess is worshipped and the next morning the exciting Bagwaal fair is celebrated. Two groups of men who have been duly purified fight a "battle" in front of the temple, flinging stones at each other, while thousands gather to watch.

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