A stone-pelting festival took place despite authorities denying permission amid the COVID-19 pandemic in central India’s Madhya Pradesh.<br /><br />The event took place on Wednesday (August 19) in the city of Pandhurna.<br /><br />Known locally as Gotmar Mela, this unusual festival is celebrated annually, on the second day of Bhadrapad, a Hindu festival.<br /><br />Despite a ban by authorities, a large number of people gathered on both sides of the river flowing between Pandhurna and Savargaon and stoned each other.<br /><br />According to local reports, over 100 people were injured.
