Indian police in Haveri, Karnataka have banned the ritual of lowering infants into wells.<br /><br />Footage captured on June 13 shows one baby being lowered into a deep well at a place of worship named a "dargah."<br /><br />The dargah official who is lowering the infant into the well on the cradle, speaking in Urdu, tells the parents to "get a good glimpse of the baby inside the well before pulling it up."<br /><br />Local residents believe that the ritual makes babies stronger and protects them from evil in the future, while others believe it to be "superstitious."<br /><br />Upon this footage being circulated by local media local law enforcement banned the ritual and implemented security measures to prevent the ritual from continuing.<br /><br />Dargahs are used in the Islam world to worship saints and to pay respect to deceased individuals. <br /><br />A local reporter explained that dargahs "usually draw followers from all religious communities, not just Muslims."
