What is the 400-year-old Patthar Ka Khel ritual held after Diwali in Shimla?

A nearly 400-year-old ritual in Himachal Pradesh's Dhami village sees villagers hurling stones at each other every year, a day after Diwali. Known as Patthar Ka Khel, the unusual tradition has a fascinating history and an even more unusual purpose.What is the 400-year-old Patthar Ka Khel ritual held after Diwali in Shimla? (Photos: @ANI/X)Shimla,Nov 10, 2026 16:17 ISTA centuries-old ritual involving villagers throwing stones at one another drew a large crowd in Dhami village of Himachal Pradesh, where the traditional ‘Patthar Ka Khel’ fair was held on the day after Diwali.The nearly 400-year-old tradition, also known as the Stone-Pelting Fair, was observed in the village near Shimla. It involved two groups of villagers hurling stones at each other until one participant sustained a minor injury.A video shared by news agency ANI on X showed groups of men throwing stones at one another on a paved road and the surrounding hillside. As stones flew, people were seen running, ducking, raising their arms and scattering across the open ground.Others watched from the higher slopes and near a set of red steps leading up a small incline, while some bent down to pick up stones, gestured at others or chased one another across the area. Watch the video here:#WATCH | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: A large number of people gathered in Dhami village to witness the traditional Stone-Pelting Fair, locally known as ‘Patthar Ka Khel’. Celebrated every year on the day after Diwali, the nearly 400-year-old ritual involves two groups of villagers throwing stones at each other until a participant sustains a minor injury. A few drops of the injured participant's blood are then offered to Goddess Bhadrakali. The tradition is believed to have originated as an alternative to human sacrifice, which was practised centuries ago to appease the deity and seek protection from diseases, natural calamities and other misfortunes.— ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2026Once someone was hurt, a few drops of the person's blood were collected and offered to Goddess Bhadrakali as part of the ritual. The unusual practice was believed to have originated as an alternative to human sacrifice, which was performed centuries ago to appease the deity. Villagers had traditionally sought the goddess's protection from diseases, natural calamities and other misfortunes through the ritual.- Ends