Sticks and Stones Break Bones in the Bloody Indian Festival of Bagwal Mela

The village of Devidhura, in India’s Uttarakhand state, celebrates a bloody ancient tradition which aims to appease the Hindu goddess of Varahi, a female form of Lord Vishnu who is hungry for blood sacrifices. In order to satisfy Varahi's thirst for blood, able-bodied men get together for the festival of Bagwal Mela, which takes place in the first week of August. The men arm themselves with sticks, stones, and wooden shields, and engage in a real battle in a bid to draw enough blood to ensure the goddess' pleasure.