A tiny village in Betul, Madhya Pradesh has a rather interesting ritual. Babies and children are rolled lovingly in mounds of cow dung by their parents. The kids don’t seem too happy about it, but there’s a reason they must endure.
The parents believe that smearing their kids in the excrement can give them a health boost, protect them from ailments, and that the ‘purity’ of the dung will grant them good fortune in their lives.
In the weeks leading up to Diwali, the people from this village collect cow dung in heaps and store it up for the coming ritual.
The practice is centuries-old and takes place on Govardhan Puja. It goes on from dawn till dusk until each and every child has had a turn. The celebration is so anticipated that groups of villagers gather around the heaps to wait for their turn to grant their children the gift of lifelong cow dung protection.
Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
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