Indian ritual sees holy men hoisted high whilst carrying new babies

This is the moment newborn babies being carried by men are hoisted 40 feet into the air on poles during a Hindu ritual in India.

The ceremony, known as Thookkam, takes place every year at Sree Bhadrakali Temple in Kollemcode in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Footage shows a row of four devotees, each holding a baby, wearing traditional costume attached to two interconnected poles.

                              Indian ritual sees holy men hoisted high whilst carrying new babies



The ceremony, known as Thookkam, takes place every year at Sree Bhadrakali Temple in Kollemcode in the state of Tamil Nadu

Footage shows a row of four men, each holding a baby, wearing traditional costume attached to two interconnected poles

Other people partaking in the ritual then hoist the men up into the air while they kick their legs in time.

Onlookers cheer as the devotees reach the height of their trajectory and are then wheeled down a street in a parade.



The ritual goes on into the night as different men holding different babies take turns being hoisted up and paraded through the streets.

Childless couples regularly come to the temple to offer prayers in the hope of being falling pregnant.


Other people partaking in the ritual then hoist the men up into the air while they kick their legs in time

Onlookers cheer as the men reach the height of their trajectory and are then wheeled down a street in a parade

The ritual goes on into the night as different men holding different babies take turns being hoisted up and paraded through the streets

If they then do fall pregnant, the couples return to the holy site to fulfil their vow to the deity Bhadrakali Amman by offering their babies up to participate in the festival and show their thanks.

Thookkam is an offering that is held at the Bhadrakali temple in Kollemcode in the Kanyakumari district in Tamilnadu during the month of Meenam (late March to late April).

Every year more than a thousand newborn babies are lifted by the men tied to a 40-foot pole and taken for a ride around the temple.

The festival is celebrated annually for 10 days and Thookkam is on the final day of the festival.