Thousands of Indian villagers hurl cow DUNG cakes at each other

A set of incredible images has captured the bizarre annual custom of cow dung slinging in an Indian village between two rivaling groups, that is meant to bring 'good health.' 

A day after the local spring festival  Kairuppala, Andhra Pradesh in southern India resounds with the thwack and tang of flying cow dung cakes.

Hordes of people gather and participate in the 'Pidakala War' or cow-dung cake- a symbolic war over a mythological marriage dispute between Lord Veerabhadraswamy, a fearsome form of the Hindu god Shiva, and Goddess Bhadrakali.   The custom started hundreds of years ago when Lord Veerabhadraswamy, a fearsome form of the Hindu god Shiva, wanted to marry Goddess Bhadrakali but there was opposition to the wedding and it led to a dispute

The choice of weapon of the people from Goddess Badhrakali's side was cow dung cakes and the tradition continues in earnest after the local spring festival or Ugadi festivities .
The dried cow dung used in the slinging ready to be picked up and lobbed in the playful battle. There are two sides to the fight, one group (consisting of castes such as Golla and Kammara) throw cow dung in the name of Goddess Bhadrakali and the others (the rest) do so in the name of Lord Veerabhadraswamy
To mark the wedding of the two Gods, the devotees till this day celebrate by throwing mountains of cow dung cakes at each other and the fight ends after the cakes break into small pieces or powder

The custom, which is held every year at Veerabhadra Swamy temple, attracts thousands of people from various parts of the state, who passionately watch the event for hours while sitting on top of the buildings

It is believed any injuries or aches and pains suffered during the fight would be gone in three days by applying 'Tilak' ( a mark worn usually on the forehead) of Lord Veerabhadraswamy on their forehead
At the end of the play fight both sides celebrate the wedding of Goddess Bhadrakali with Lord Veerabhadraswamy in the square Some passionate participants enter the temple dancing on the drum beats to mark the beginning of the long-running ritual 
The symbolic event is made possible after a number of lorries delivered the cow dung cakes to the village prior to the special day. A donkey race is also organized as part of the 'war'.