Like every year, this time too the ‘Stone Fair’ was celebrated with great pomp in Dhami village, about 30 kilometers from Shimla. This unique fair is organized the next day of Diwali and a large number of people from nearby areas come to see it.
Fair starts with stone pelting between two villages
The specialty of this fair is that in this the youth of two villages Halog and Jamog stand face to face and throw small stones at each other. This stone pelting continues until blood comes out from a person’s body. As soon as blood comes out from someone’s head or body, a tilak is applied with that blood on the forehead of Goddess Kali.
Bleeding is considered a good sign
Local people believe that someone getting injured in the fair is not considered inauspicious but auspicious. This time 60-year-old Subhash, who recently retired from the police department as SHO, was the first to be injured. He said that it is a matter of pride for him and he will continue to follow this tradition in future also.
The fair starts with puja and music
According to tradition, the fair begins when the priests of the Narasimha Devta temple reach the Kali Devi temple accompanied by drums. After this the process of throwing stones starts. This practice is believed to have originated around 300 years ago, when it was introduced as an alternative to the practice of “Sati”.
Tradition continues despite ban
Local administration and human rights organizations have been trying to stop this tradition, because people get hurt in it. Still, the villagers of Dhami are not ready to retreat from their beliefs. He says that this is not just a fair, but a symbol of devotion and courage towards Mother Goddess. This year the stone pelting lasted for about half an hour, whereas last year it ended in only 15 minutes.
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