{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Dhami Stone Pelting Fair: Blood of Mahesh Verma Offered to Goddess Bhadrakali After 18-Minute Clash in Shimla",
  "summary": "An ancient stone-pelting tradition was held in Dhami near Shimla on the day following Diwali, where two groups clashed for 18 minutes until a participant was injured and his blood was offered to Goddess Bhadrakali.",
  "content": "Located around 26 kilometers away from Himachal Pradesh's capital Shimla, the village of Dhami witnesses a truly unique tradition on the day immediately following Diwali. While the rest of the nation engages in festive celebrations and Bhai Dooj preparations, this region comes alive with a dramatic exchange of stones between two groups. In this age-old custom, getting injured and shedding blood is not viewed as a defeat or an injury, but rather as a sign of supreme fortune and the divine blessings of Goddess Bhadrakali.\n\nEighteen-Minute Clash Unfolds in Halog Village\nThis year, the traditional stone pelting fair in Halog village saw the two rival factions engaged in combat for approximately 18 minutes. The moment 30-year-old Mahesh Verma, belonging to the Jamogi khund group, was struck by a stone and began to bleed, the hostilities were immediately halted. Following this, the sacred blood drawn from Verma was used to perform a ceremonial blood-tilak for Goddess Bhadrakali.\n\n \n\nReligious Rituals Mark the Opening of the Event\nThe stone-pelting fair commenced on November 9 with a series of formal religious rituals in Halog village. Led by the Dhami royal family, the proceedings began with prayers offered to the village deity, Dev Kurgun, followed by the worship of Lord Narasimha. Once all traditional religious formalities were concluded, Jagdeep Singh, the head of the Dhami royal family, inaugurated the fair by throwing the very first stone.\n\nAfternoon Onset and the Sudden Conclusion of Play\nThe stone pelting officially commenced at 3:36 PM, and within moments, stones began flying from both opposing sides. This intense activity continued unabated for roughly 18 minutes as onlookers gathered around the grounds witnessed the historic spectacle. Finally, at 3:54 PM, Mahesh Verma of the Jamogi khund sustained an injury from a stone, causing him to bleed. The moment the blood appeared, the game was brought to an immediate halt.\n\nSmiles Despite Injury as Participants Feel Fortunate\nThe man whose blood was utilized for the ritual tilak of Goddess Bhadrakali is Mahesh Verma, a resident of Gori village who works as a key-man in the Jal Shakti Department under the Shimla Municipal Corporation. Notably, despite suffering an injury from the stone impact, Verma's face displayed sheer happiness rather than any sign of distress. Within this tradition, bleeding from a strike is considered a direct blessing from Goddess Bhadrakali, making the injured person feel immensely fortunate. Verma received immediate first aid on-site before being transferred to a hospital.\n\nA Queen's Intervention Replaced Human Sacrifice\nA fascinating and historical legend underpins the Dhami stone-pelting fair. Jagdeep Singh, a descendant of the Dhami royal family, elaborated on the origins, traditions, and lore of the event. According to Singh, ancient times saw the practice of human sacrifice performed to ensure regional peace and prosperity. A queen belonging to the Dhami princely state strongly opposed this inhumane practice, successfully replacing human sacrifice with the custom of applying blood drawn from the stone-pelting event as a divine mark for the goddess.\n\nThe game stops instantly the moment someone bleeds from a stone strike. To this day, every individual who has shed blood has never complained of pain or injury, instead considering themselves deeply fortunate. The primary objective during the stoning is not to settle personal scores, but to keep a centuries-old tradition alive. Participants engage in the event in a true sporting spirit rather than harboring any mutual animosity.\n\nTradition Survived Even Through the Pandemic Years\nAnother remarkable feature of the Dhami stone fair is that it did not completely cease even during the strict nationwide lockdowns enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic. While large public gatherings were unfeasible at that time, a small group of individuals ensured that the religious rites were properly fulfilled. According to Jagdeep Singh, he personally anointed Goddess Bhadrakali with his own blood during that period, performing all rituals with just two or three people present. Devendra Kumar Bharadwaj, the chief priest of the Narasimha temple located within the royal court, notes that the tradition has endured for centuries, strictly adhering to ancestral rules to this day.\n\nLarge Crowds Gather to Witness the Historic Heritage\nEvery year, massive crowds flock from Halog and surrounding villages to witness this extraordinary fair. Young participants display immense enthusiasm for taking part, while elders regard the practice as an invaluable heritage passed down through generations. Although times and eras have changed, the Dhami stone fair remains an enduring symbol of local identity and cultural devotion.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThe practical implications of this traditional event center around cultural heritage preservation and local participation.\n\n• Across India: This unique cultural practice highlights how ancient folk traditions continue to survive and thrive across different regions of the country. Such events serve as a window into the diverse heritage and community customs embedded in local histories.\n• In Shimla: For residents of Halog and nearby villages, the fair serves as a significant annual gathering that reinforces their cultural identity and shared heritage. Local authorities and organizers ensure necessary medical and safety arrangements are available during the conduct of the traditional event.\n\nWhy this happened\nThe persistence of the Dhami stone-pelting fair is rooted in centuries-old historical beliefs and structural changes to ancient community customs.\n\n• Abolition of Human Sacrifice: Historical accounts indicate that human sacrifices were once performed for regional prosperity before a local queen intervened and replaced the practice with blood offerings from a stone-pelting ritual.\n• Religious Devotion: Community members maintain a deep-rooted belief that shedding blood during the fair acts as a divine blessing from Goddess Bhadrakali, ensuring the well-being of the region.\n• Preservation of Heritage: Even during severe disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the ritual was kept alive through scaled-down private observances to maintain unbroken generational continuity.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Where is the Dhami stone pelting fair held?\nThe fair is held in Halog village, located about 26 kilometers from Himachal Pradesh's capital, Shimla.\n\n2. How long did the stone pelting last this year?\nThe stone pelting between the two groups continued for approximately 18 minutes this year.\n\n3. Who was injured first and whose blood was offered?\nThirty-year-old Mahesh Verma of the Jamogi khund was injured first, and his blood was used to anoint Goddess Bhadrakali.\n\n4. What is Mahesh Verma's profession?\nMahesh Verma works as a key-man in the Jal Shakti Department under the Shimla Municipal Corporation and resides in Gori village.\n\n5. Who initiated this tradition and why?\nA queen of the Dhami princely state ended the practice of human sacrifice and replaced it with the stone-pelting and blood-tilak custom.\n\n6. Did the fair stop during the COVID-19 pandemic?\nNo, while large public gatherings were suspended, a few individuals continued performing the essential religious rituals privately.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/dhami-stone-pelting-fair-mahesh-verma-ke-rakta-se-hua-goddess-bhadrakali-ka-tilak-58543",
  "category": "Himachal Pradesh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-11-10",
  "tags": [
    "Shimla News",
    "Dhami Stone Fair",
    "Himachal Pradesh Tradition",
    "Halog Village",
    "Goddess Bhadrakali"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia",
  "whatItMeansForYou": "The practical implications of this traditional event center around cultural heritage preservation and local participation.\n\n• Across India: This unique cultural practice highlights how ancient folk traditions continue to survive and thrive across different regions of the country. Such events serve as a window into the diverse heritage and community customs embedded in local histories.\n• In Shimla: For residents of Halog and nearby villages, the fair serves as a significant annual gathering that reinforces their cultural identity and shared heritage. Local authorities and organizers ensure necessary medical and safety arrangements are available during the conduct of the traditional event.",
  "whyItHappened": "The persistence of the Dhami stone-pelting fair is rooted in centuries-old historical beliefs and structural changes to ancient community customs.\n\n• Abolition of Human Sacrifice: Historical accounts indicate that human sacrifices were once performed for regional prosperity before a local queen intervened and replaced the practice with blood offerings from a stone-pelting ritual.\n• Religious Devotion: Community members maintain a deep-rooted belief that shedding blood during the fair acts as a divine blessing from Goddess Bhadrakali, ensuring the well-being of the region.\n• Preservation of Heritage: Even during severe disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the ritual was kept alive through scaled-down private observances to maintain unbroken generational continuity.",
  "questionsAndAnswers": [
    {
      "question": "Where is the Dhami stone pelting fair held?",
      "answer": "The fair is held in Halog village, located about 26 kilometers from Himachal Pradesh's capital, Shimla."
    },
    {
      "question": "How long did the stone pelting last this year?",
      "answer": "The stone pelting between the two groups continued for approximately 18 minutes this year."
    },
    {
      "question": "Who was injured first and whose blood was offered?",
      "answer": "Thirty-year-old Mahesh Verma of the Jamogi khund was injured first, and his blood was used to anoint Goddess Bhadrakali."
    },
    {
      "question": "What is Mahesh Verma's profession?",
      "answer": "Mahesh Verma works as a key-man in the Jal Shakti Department under the Shimla Municipal Corporation and resides in Gori village."
    },
    {
      "question": "Who initiated this tradition and why?",
      "answer": "A queen of the Dhami princely state ended the practice of human sacrifice and replaced it with the stone-pelting and blood-tilak custom."
    },
    {
      "question": "Did the fair stop during the COVID-19 pandemic?",
      "answer": "No, while large public gatherings were suspended, a few individuals continued performing the essential religious rituals privately."
    }
  ]
}