Devotees pelt stones at each other to appease Goddess Kali in Shimla

Thousands of devotees gathered to celebrate a unique stone-pelting festival here to appease Goddess Kali.

Residents congregated at Dhami village to celebrate the centuries-old tradition of throwing stones at each other, which is organised just a day after Diwali.

The historic ritual involves devotees hitting each other with stones until they bleed. The blood is then offered to Goddess Kali. The festival symbolizes victory of good over evil.

Royal family member Jagdeep Singh said, "Earlier, there used to be human sacrifice in this festival, which was later stopped when the King died. The queen did not like the ritual of human sacrifice. Before performing 'Sati' (women immolating themselves on the funeral pyres of their husbands), she asked that human sacrifice should be banned. Instead, a new stone-pelting tradition was started in which two groups form one side represents the members of Royal family and the other side represents the common man and it was decided that devotes will keep pelting stones until anyone is hit and starts bleeding. The blood will be then offered to Goddess Kali."

Devotees from different tribe participate in a procession, beating drums and playing flutes. They form teams and pelt stones at each other.

According to mythology, the Goddess Kali is the first of ten incarnations of the Goddess Durga.

Depicted with a fierce face and terrifying look, Goddess Kali is regarded as more aggressive form and is known to destroy all evil for the cause of justice.