Devotees honor Goddess Durga with spectacular fire-throwing fight

Mangaluru (Karnataka), Apr 22 (ANI): It is common to witness strange rituals at religious places in India. But, hundreds of devotees in dhoti throwing fire-lit torches at each other to appease Goddess Durga is a ritual, which is a must watch. The festival is known as 'Agni Kheli.' The ritual 'Agni Kheli' 'Thoothedhara' takes place during the festival of the Kateel Durga Parameswari temple that is held in the month of April each year for about eight consecutive days. Hundreds of devotees gathered at the temple to carry out a centuries-old tradition that involves throwing and getting hit with burning palm fronds. The fiery action attracts thousands of spectators. To prevent serious burns, the men only wear pieces of cloth around their lower body, but they are often set ablaze during the fiery ritual. 'Agni Kheli' only lasts 15-20 minutes. The people who suffer burns are sprayed with water of Kumkumarchane. Kateel is a temple town located about 30 km away from Mangaluru city.