From the archive record
Much less pollution by celebrating Diwali this way! While everyone else burst crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate Deepavali, the villagers of Gomatapura on Tamil Nadu and Karnataka border collected cow dung for a couple of days only to throw at each other. This ritual being practised for hundreds of years in Gomatapura has turned into an entertainment for people in the region. The ritual of throwing cow dung at each other is held a day after the Deepavali festival. They also celebrate a practise to not tell lies. For the celebration, a man made of mud is placed on a donkey and is taken on a procession across the story. The villagers abuse the effigy on the donkey only to send a strong message that the people should not lie under any circumstance. The throwing of cow dung starts on