Fiery Tradition Turns Chaotic: 35 Injured in Hingot Battle Ritual

A day after Diwali, the annual Hingot Yuddh (Hingot Battle) in Indore, Madhya Pradesh took a dangerous turn, leaving 35 people with burn injuries. The centuries-old ritual, where warriors from the Turra and Kalangi teams engage in a fierce contest, has continued despite safety concerns.

Thousands gathered to witness the event, as they do every year. Dressed in traditional attire and armed with shields and Hingot pouches, the participants ignited bamboo sticks and flung flaming shells at their opponents. The Hingot itself is a wild fruit with a tough outer shell, which is dried, hollowed out, and filled with gunpowder before being sealed with yellow clay.

The administration had deployed fire brigades, ambulances, and police to manage the crowd, but the intensity of the spectacle led to multiple injuries. One participant is reported to be in serious condition and has been referred to a hospital in Indore. The fight, which typically runs well into dusk, was stopped half an hour earlier this year due to safety concerns.

This is not the first time the Hingot Battle has resulted in injuries and casualties. In 2017, a young man lost his life, prompting calls to ban the event. A petition filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court questioned the legality of the tradition, terming it "inhuman and life-threatening." However, the practice continues, defended by villagers as a centuries-old symbol of heritage and bravery.