jallikattu

Supreme Court

People walking in firebed during Banni festival

Andhra Pradesh

Dahi Handi human pyramid

Gujarat

Man about to start his walk on firebed

Devotees pierce their bodies with hooks, nails, skewers, lances and other sharp objects.

Tamil Nadu

Murugan

Man laying on ground, waiting for the cattle to trample him

People hanging like eagles from shafts to mark the festival in Kerala

People hurling fire balls at each other

Observing Muharram

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets, demanding that a ban on the bull-taming sportbe lifted. The traditional sport is part of centuries-old Pongal celebrations in the state. Theprohibited people from using bulls as part of any festive sports in 2014, after objections from animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA). The ban was upheld in 2016, despite protests by followers. It was reported that the animals were subjected to brutal torture before and during the events.In its 2014 judgment, the apex court stated that bulls cannot be used as performing animals for jallikattu festivities and bullock-cart races anywhere in the country.This is not India’s first or only festival tradition to court controversy due to its bizarre nature. Here are a few others:On every Dusshera, several lathi-wielding devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka gather at Devaragattu Temple into mark Banni festival. The devotees hit each other’s head with lathis from midnight to dawn. This is a symbolic celebration of the killing of a demon by Lord Shiva.Dahi handi is a popular festival of Maharashtra and. However, the human pyramids created during the festivities have often led to several accidents and even death. This put the festival under the legal scanner and in 2016, the Supreme Court ruled that children under the age of 18 cannot take part in the pyramids. It also stated that the height of human pyramids cannot be more than 20 feet.Theemithi is part of a two-and-a-half month-long celebration in south India, in which significant parts of Mahabharat are re-enacted. Devotees walk on fire in exchange for a blessing granted by Goddess Draupadi.It is a festival celebrated infor honouring Lordfor receiving a lance from his mother, Goddess Parvati to destroy an evil demon. The celebrations are followed by a 48-hour-long fast. Many devotees pierce their bodies with hooks, nails, skewers, lances and other sharp objects.The Govardhan festival is celebrated a day after Diwali. To mark this day people decorate their cattle with flowers and paints and lay down on the ground in front of them, allowing the animals to trample them.To quench Goddess Kali's blood thirst, people hang like eagles from shafts to mark this festival in Kerala. They hook themselves by their back flesh and are taken in a colourful procession around the city.Thousands of bare-bodied devotees throw flaming palm fronds at each other during this eight-day festival that takes place at Kateel Durga Parameswari Temple in Mangalore. Angi Kheli is celebrated in the month of April every year.To commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein, Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Shia Muslims across the country flog themselves in public. People mourn Hussein’s death by whipping themselves with a chain and thumping hard on their chests continuously.