1,000 injured in ritualistic stone fight at Gotmar Fair in Madhya Pradesh's Pandhurna
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Bhopal: A centuries-old tradition rooted in a mythological love story reportedly resulted in injuries to nearly 1,000 people during a ritualistic stone fight at the Gotmar Fair in Pandhurna, Madhya Pradesh, on Saturday. The fair was held on the banks of the Jam River on Bhadrapada Amavasya and draws thousands of participants, despite the risks of injury.
The fair is linked to a mythological tale of two young lovers who were killed by villagers while attempting to elope across the river. As per tradition, residents of Pandhurna and Sawargaon engage in a fierce battle of stones, re-enacting the violent history. This year, the conflict resulted in injuries to around 1,000 people, with two critically injured villagers, Nilesh Janrao and Jyotiram Uike, rushed to hospitals in Nagpur, as reported by The New Indian Express.
Local authorities, aware of the recurring injuries, had set up six temporary health centres staffed with 58 doctors and 200 medical personnel. Despite the deployment of over 600 police officers and the imposition of prohibitory orders by Pandhurna district collector Ajay Deo Sharma, the stone-throwing battle ensued, leading to numerous injuries.
The fair began with the worship of Chandi Mata at the Jam river, followed by the ritual where Sawargaon villagers planted a freshly cut Palash tree in the river as a sacred flag. They subsequently defended the tree as their daughter, while Pandhurna, seen as the “boy’s side,” launched a barrage of stones to seize it. The clash continued until the flag broke, after which both sides united in worship, closing the circle of violence and faith, added the report.
The fair traces its origins to a 400-year-old legend in which a young couple from Pandhurna and Sawargaon attempted to elope, only to be stopped and killed by villagers near the Jam river. Though the tradition continues, it has led to fatalities over the years, with 13 reported deaths since 1955, including three members of one family.
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Hailstorm brings relief to Bengaluru from scorching summer
Bengaluru (PTI): Bringing much relief to the people battered by the scorching summer, heavy rains coupled with hailstorm lashed the city on Wednesday.
The thunderous downpour with stormy wind cooled the city, where the temperature had soared to 37 degree.
With the rains, the city, from being parched, witnessed waterlogging in just two hours.
There was waist-deep water in many areas in the city such as Richmond Town and Shanthinagar resembling a river.
The unexpected rain did not spare Vidhana Soudha, the seat of power, as water gushed inside the government offices from the lobby. The office of the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka was also flooded.
Since the downpour occurred in the evening, many office goers struggled to return home.
Uprooting of trees was reported in many parts of the city, including Malleswaram, Shanthinagar and Seshadripuram.
