A tradição em Madhya Pradesh (Índia) manda que os fiéis se deitem de bruços nas ruas e deixem as vacas sagradas passarem correndo por cima deles.

A festa popular é chamada de Ekadashi. Abaixo, o evento no vilarejo de Ujjain:

Os hindus acreditam que, após as vacas passarem por cima deles, os seus pedidos aos deuses serão atendidos.

______________________________________________________________________________

Tradition once again took centre stage in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, when people were trampled by cows on the occasion of Ekadashi.

The event was observed in the village of Bhidawad and neighbouring hamlets. Residents said that they have been practising this bizarre ritual for centuries.

Ekadashi is an event that takes place a day after Diwali. For this rare event, villagers decorated their cattle with colours and henna in different patterns. Later, they get run over by their livestock in the belief their prayers would be answered.

Hundreds of villagers witnessed the event in which men wearing garlands lay on the streets as herds of cows literally trampled them. Locals claim no one has ever got hurt during this ritual that is believed to bring prosperity to the village.

A similar ritual involving buffaloes was observed in Bhopal, the state’s capital, on the same day. A huge crowd of locals witnessed the buffalo fight.

This is an event practiced by the Yadav community whose prime occupation is to rear cows and buffaloes and to sell milk. Prior to the event, buffaloes are worshipped as part of ‘Govardhan Puja’, which is observed a day after Diwali.

After the worship, the animals are made to consume alcohol or toddy (grog from the palm trees) and then prodded to lock horns. Spectators were seen cheering and clapping, anticipating an entertaining duel, when the specially reared animals were brought to the arena on an expansive field.(ANI)