A video circulating widely on social media (here, here, and here) shows a group of people wearing saffron-coloured clothes pelting stones at each other. One user captioned the post, “Should the homes of stone pelters be demolished based on their identification through clothing?” suggesting that this was done during a protest. Let’s verify this claim in the following article.
Claim: Video shows Hindus pelting stones during a protest.
Fact: The video shows stone pelting in the Bagwal fair in Uttarakhand which is a traditional practice, not a protest. Held annually during Raksha Bandhan in Champawat district at the Devidhura temple of Goddess Barahi, this ritual involves four clans (Kham) throwing stones at each other. This practice, rooted in mythology, symbolizes a historical replacement for human sacrifice. Participants use wooden shields, called farra, to protect themselves during the event, which occurs in the month of Sravan. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led us to several videos published in August 2024 (here and here), all describing the Devidhura Bagwal Mela.
A keyword Google search directed us to reports (here and here) detailing the 2024 Bagwal Mela. The renowned Bagwal fair commenced in Devidhura, Uttarakhand, with Union Minister of State Ajay Tamta inaugurating the event. The fair’s opening featured cultural programs, celebrating the rich history of the Devidhura Bagwal Mela.
We visited Uttarakhand’s Ministry of Tourism website to learn more about the tradition, which provided detailed context about the Devidhura Bagwal Mela. Held annually during Raksha Bandhan in Champawat district, this event takes place at the Devidhura temple of Goddess Barahi. The Mela features four clans (Kham) pelting stones at each other, a ritual steeped in mythology that symbolizes the replacement of an ancient human sacrifice tradition to the goddess. Participants protect themselves with wooden shields, called farra, during the ceremony in the month of Sravan.
To sum up, the video shows the Bagwal fair, an annual event held on Raksha Bandhan in Uttarakhand’s Champawat district is not related to any protest.
