Why villagers pelt each other with stones in Himachal’s 400-year-old tradition

Dhami village in Himachal Pradesh observes a unique stone-pelting ritual called ‘Patthar Ka Khel’ after Diwali. This tradition involves two groups of villagers throwing stones at each other until someone gets injured. Following the ritual, blood from the injured participant is offered to Goddess Bhadrakali. The ceremony is thought to have originated as a substitute for human sacrifice to appease the deity.