Thousands of people witnessed the traditional Pathar Mela, an ancient stone-pelting festival, in the Dhami area of Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, with customary fervour on Monday.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the festival commenced around 3:30 pm, involving participants from two groups engaged in a ritualistic stone-pelting contest. The ceremony concluded after approximately 25 minutes, following an instance where Mahesh Verma sustained an injury to his face. Verma was subsequently taken to the memorial site of Satti at Khel Ka Chaura, where a religious observance took place, culminating in the application of his blood to a local deity at the temple. He then received first aid.
The religious proceedings continued with members of the former royal family offering prayers to Lord Narasimha. Jagdeep Singh, the successor to the late Dhami princely state, also took part in the traditional supplications, seeking blessings for peace and prosperity in the region.
The Pathar Mela is observed annually on the day following Diwali. It involves two distinct factions: the Jamogi group, comprising residents from Janiya, Jamogi, Planiya, Kothi, Chaiyan, and Okhru villages, and the Katedu group, associated with the erstwhile royal lineage and drawing participants from Tundu, Dhagoi, Bathmana, and neighbouring hamlets. The tradition mandates that both groups continue pelting stones at each other until an injury occurs. The blood from the injured individual is then used to apply a ’tilak’ to the local goddess.
Local accounts suggest that a series of unfortunate events in the former princely state led to the performance of sacrifices aimed at ensuring the populace’s welfare and prosperity. However, the queen at the time made the decision to discontinue these practices.
As an alternative, the distinctive stone-pelting ritual was instituted. Under this tradition, the blood drawn from an injury sustained during the festival is applied as a ceremonial mark to Goddess Bhadrakali. Residents believe that this ongoing custom serves to safeguard the area from calamities and illnesses, thereby ensuring their enduring peace and prosperity.
The Chenab Times News Desk
