In poll-bound MP, Hingot warriors say 'no explosives, no vote'

Hingots will blaze. Blood will flow. Only then will ballots follow.There is no stopping the deadly centuries-old tradition of 'hingot yuddh' in Madhya Pradesh. It's a peculiar festival, in which "warriors" from two sides hurl burning hingots (a hollow fruit stuffed with gunpowder) at each other. Hingots are desert dates, but in this ritual, they are turned into deadly missiles. Last year, a spectator died after being hit by a hingot and 36 were injured. This year, thankfully, no deaths were reported, although 29 people suffered injuries. 61167388Ahead of the annual festival, there was talk of a ban on the event, With the model code of conduct already in force for the assembly election just around the corner in Madhya Pradesh, angry villagers -- from Gautampura and Runji -- got together to put up posters that called for a boycott. The announcements, which surfaced all over the place, said ‘No hingot, no vote’. medium66566241The protest first began after two persons were arrested by Gautampura police some days before the event for “illegally making explosives”. They were actually getting hingots ready. Rumours then spread that the government was planning to put an end to the ritual altogether. Before long, poll boycott posters had come up.An anxious administration soon cleared the air and said the dangerous combat, celebrated by villagers a day after Diwali in Gautampura, about 50km from Indore, would be held as usual, albeit with more safety arrangements.large66566296FIERY TRADITIONNobody wins or loses in this war and it usually ends with a few injured. Nobody knows when the tradition started either, but local lore says it is ancient. The fight is always held on Padwa (the day after Diwali). Preparations start at least three months in advance.According to hingot fight rules, warriors are divided into two groups — Turra and Kalgi. Tension mounts as fighters and spectators wait for the sun to dip. With darkness looming, the whistle is blown. Men then start hurling burning hingots at each other. large66567093The sight of hingots criss-crossing and sparks flying leaves one spellbound. Hundreds travel from across the state to witness it. Some, obviously, end up getting very hurt.The administration never really gives permission for it, yet the event is organised each year by residents. Like in the past, pamphlets were distributed by the police this year to persuade people not to get into a hingot war, but no one paid any attention. Tradition trumps over safety. 66590381