Indian babies flung from roof in bizarre ritual
Published 30 April, 2008, 22:15
Generally, the only time people throw babies from buildings is when there's a fire, and lives are at risk. But in a strange religious tradition in western India, elders toss infants from a considerable height – to make them strong.
Devotees at a Muslim shrine in the village of Solapur have been observing the annual ritual for more than 500 years.
It's believed that throwing the new-borns builds them up, making them stronger in life. Locals insist there is no evidence to back claims that children are harmed by the practice.
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