I hadn't heard of it until this morning when it was on CNN.

It must be a VERY local ritual cos ive never heard or read of any other muslim regions/countries doing this either.

wow, i never heard either...but there is something still worse. in TN, babies are buried for a while in the temple premises and retrieved after a while. and there is another temple where the priest walks ON the deities.

Groan...never heard of it.

A bouncing baby boy!

sounds like fun. If you are 12 or older.

What a bunch of morons.

Santosh at Uberdesi had a post about it earlier this week. The IBNLive-CNN video he linked to clearly said (and interviewed) both Hindu and Muslim parents who were participating in the ritual, though the shrine itself was nominally Muslim (a dargah).

The ritual is bizarre, but clearly it's been going on for a while. The reason nobody's heard of it is just that it is happening in a relatively small town, semi-rural almost, and big-city media and audio-visual recording devices are only just discovering it. There is certainly the chance that things could go wrong in the baby throwing - after all, the chadar is barely 6' X 4', and the kid could land outside the catchment area, especially if the 'experiment' is repeated often enough. Still, the claim is made in the IBN video, that no harm has ever come to any of the kids (that they know about). Kids that age are remarkably resilient.

I thought the IBNLive clip was much more balanced in its coverage than this Reuters clip. IBNLive clearly restricted the scope to Sholapur and even there, to the particular people who did this. But in the Reuters clip, suddenly it's about 'India', and 'Indian parents', and there was a Godawful holier-than-thou attitude emanating from it, which the reporter's accent didn't help ease. All in all, I don't think it was a good piece of reportage - it was a sensationalist, otherizing, condescending, hackjob with an unbearably colonialist subtext. This kind of reportage is only going to increase, unfortunately, as a function of globalization and media penetration .

I think Duke lacrosse just found a great pool of folks to hire from.

But in the Reuters clip, suddenly it's about 'India', and 'Indian parents', and there was a Godawful holier-than-thou attitude emanating from it, which the reporter's accent didn't help ease.

Why? I am sure Reuters did similar pieces on the bizarre practice of dunking babies and sometimes even grown men in a giant bathtub, or on the tribal custom of communally celebrating foreskin snipping.

And I thought sky diving was the most exciting adventure sport! That makes me wish I was a tiny tot too. Atlleast I might have grown up to be a Sky diving expert. But seriously, what the hell is going on ?

My white friends shit their pants when they saw this.

Chachaji:

I thought the IBNLive clip was much more balanced in its coverage than this Reuters clip. IBNLive clearly restricted the scope to Sholapur and even there, to the particular people who did this. But in the Reuters clip, suddenly it's about 'India', and 'Indian parents', and there was a Godawful holier-than-thou attitude emanating from it, which the reporter's accent didn't help ease.

I hear what you're saying, but could it not be argued that IBNLive has otherized the phenomenon to Solapur like how Reuters otherized it to India?

I was waiting to see Michael Jackson's head appear from the top of the shrine.

Seriously, though, it's an abhorrent practice, but (and here comes the cliche point) the Western media has issues of far greater magnitude on which to report, or even such fringe practices in Western countries, so this seems like another case of bizarre cherry-picking.

You'd think parental instincts or common sense would take over the old traditions at some point, but I suppose the peer pressure to do this sort of thing must be overwhelming. So many people cant be so stupid.

13 · abdul said

but I suppose the peer pressure to do this sort of thing must be overwhelming. So many people cant be so stupid.

pir pressure?

I am sure some Hindu Indians view circumcision as a pretty abhorrent practice too.

6 · chachaji said

Kids that age are remarkably resilient.

Chachaji, I don't know what that means in this context -- surely they're not resilient enough to withstand impact that splits their skulls open? Or do you mean the mental trauma barely registers?

It's great to see that the Hindus and Muslims have united for a common cause...er.

On MSNBC, on Zeitgeist, the commentator said that they are thrown off from a height of 50 feet. Now, I know for a fact how ghoras tend to exaggerate about lengths/heights. All of us South Asian men don't suffer from this length-estimation anxiety disorder. But, I tell you, that is *NOT* 50 feet. It's more like 15 feet.

15 · Pravin said

I am sure some Hindu Indians view circumcision as a pretty abhorrent practice too.

But there are actual documented medical benefits to being circumcised (some protection from HIV transmission and STDs; granted that this is the reason why people get their kids circumcised!)

that should have read: granted that this is not the reason why people get their kids circumcised!)

But, I tell you, that is *NOT* 50 feet. It's more like 15 feet.

Indian men have smaller feet.

17 · boston_mahesh said

Now, I know for a fact how ghoras tend to exaggerate about lengths/heights.

please, stallions tend to be naturally well-endowed.

So where are the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, ayahs? The crowds (specifically, those perched on top of the building and those being spectators below) are conspicuous by this glaring absence of female care-givers.

16 · portmanteau said

Chachaji, I don't know what that means in this context -- surely they're not resilient enough to withstand impact that splits their skulls open? Or do you mean the mental trauma barely registers?

port, although I raised the possibility of the kid landing outside the 'catchment area' - I didn't mean to imply that kids falling outside the chadar would necessarily be resilient enough to survive if they impacted head first on solid concrete or something. No, I just meant in general, they are both physiologically and psychologically quite resilient.

The chances of hitting head first are small, if only because, in falling through a significant height, the body is likely to hit ground near its center of gravity. Which, for humans, is near the pelvis. So falling down facing up, means that you land on your butt. That's what seems to be happening. Sure, that's all theoretical. But this comes uncomfortably close, so not entirely theoretical. My younger brother fell off a first floor balcony at the age of 2. He fractured his hip, most likely from having landed on his butt - and his head also impacted hard ground, and swelled up, and he was in a coma for a few days. It took him a couple months, but because he was that young, he recovered completely. Of course his fall was not buffered by a thick chadar, and not everybody is that lucky.

None of this is to condone the silliness in this ritual, though occasionally I can be a Devil's Advocate.

Dammit.. I feel guilty when my kid bumps his own head against the wall. and these people *throw* the kids off a roof?

The Reuters' caption irks me: "Indian baby-dropping ritual." As if it's normative throughout the subcontinent. Great! "Hey, you're Indian, right? Remember when your Dad dropped you into that sheet?" It's like ... oh, I don't know ... showing a clip from a horrible child pageant organized by pushy parents and captioning it "American girl-beautifying ritual" or other words that imply a widespread practice.

It's like ... oh, I don't know ... showing a clip from a horrible child pageant organized by pushy parents and captioning it

No, it's more like filming a Klan meeting and captioning it, "American club meets to discuss race politics"

but could it not be argued that IBNLive has otherized the phenomenon to Solapur like how Reuters otherized it to India?

Anything can be argued, as some commentators here regularly demonstrate.

ulloo kay patthey!

Circumcision another weird ritual. Clean it, dont put it where it dont belong and you wont get HIV or STD! Far better odds than whackin your peepee to prevent STDs!
How about snake handling churches ( southern US)
Washing the statue with milk-what a waste. A vegan on an earlier post had suggested soymilk. As if thats anybetter.
Having the pope 'canonize' someone for a 'miracle'
Add ALL pilgrimages to this list
Bottom line-nuts are everywhere. Maybe more in India but overall.....everywhere.

13 · abdul said

So many people cant be so stupid.

Let's meet to discuss.

26 · HMF said

No, it's more like filming a Klan meeting and captioning it, "American club meets to discuss race politics"

So, are you saying most Americans aren't racist?

HMF #26: YES! Much better example. Thank you.

20 · pingpong said

But, I tell you, that is *NOT* 50 feet. It's more like 15 feet.

Indian men have smaller feet.

Yes. Indian men have smaller feet, but we have very big meaters.

Yes. Indian men have smaller feet, but we have very big meaters.

If this is a boy throwing thing only, then at least this would help unskew the skewed up sex ratio a little.

25 · Mitali Perkins said

The Reuters' caption irks me: "Indian baby-dropping ritual." As if it's normative throughout the subcontinent. Great! "Hey, you're Indian, right? Remember when your Dad dropped you into that sheet?"

The "news satire" in MSNBC said "Indian baby tossing".

they’ve been throwing their young children off a tall building to improve their health.

I wonder how the cobra feels about all this.

Why are some people getting their panties/tighty-whiteys in a bunch over this? I think its cool and it doesn't seem that anyone is being hurt. I'd put my kid through it someday. I don't mind if people think that all Indians do this. It will give us some street cred!

26 · HMF said

It's like ... oh, I don't know ... showing a clip from a horrible child pageant organized by pushy parents and captioning it

No, it's more like filming a Klan meeting and captioning it, "American club meets to discuss race politics"

Its more like showing the clip of the polygamist sect in Texas and captioning it, "American Customs and Traditions"

So, are you saying most Americans aren't racist?

I'm saying most Americans aren't Klan members.

Where's the bathwater?

Anything's better than the whole world resembling the United States.

The Indian police should put and end to this. US police should jail raw milk enthusiasts & anti-transfusion religious ecentrics who pose a similar, but less visually disturbing, risk to their children.

it scares the crap outta me because im scared the babies might land on their necks, seriously damaging their spinal cords

And I thought dwarf tossing was weird...

im scared the babies might land on their necks, seriously damaging their spinal cords

Naah, if Murphy's Law can go wrong, it will.

The Reuters' caption irks me: "Indian baby-dropping ritual." As if it's normative throughout the subcontinent. Great! "Hey, you're Indian, right? Remember when your Dad dropped you into that sheet?"

I agree. I hate when western media research the hell out of some weird/non-sense that happens and it always ends up in the top stories. They are obsessed with babies with multiple legs (CNN reported Vishnu as a Goddess...f***ing idiots), babies with two faces, babies around snakes, babies thrown from roofs,etc. Next day, Tom, Dick and Harry come running to me shouting "Dude...did you see that? is this how all 3rd world countries are? don't you people have child safety rules? can children dial 911 to report? do you have foster homes?". Usually, I have no idea of such things happening until those bums show me.

Why are some people getting their panties/tighty-whiteys in a bunch over this?

Now, I understand why Sun TV reports every panda birth in USA/China, polygamist sect in Texas, worthless spring break wet T-shirt contests.

it scares the crap outta me because im scared the babies might land on their necks

There's no alternative other than to protect their necks.

If the focus is on the mindless rituals then the news article/reporting makes perfect sense but if it is meant to elicit paranoia and awe abt possible injuries then why is it is very different from the grievous injuries that can be sustained in the name of sports/money i.e american football ?

This is Sparta

So where are the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, ayahs? The crowds (specifically, those perched on top of the building and those being spectators below) are conspicuous by this glaring absence of female care-givers.

Anderson Cooper 360 showed a clip about the practice tonight, there were lots of women in the crowd. Sure, only guys were holding the sheet.

Do check for yourself on AC 360.

Even the Reuters clip has lot of women in the crowd.

49 · Samir said

This is Sparta

Samir, do you mean meet the spartans ?

This is probably the most idiotic thing I have ever come across. Interestingly, there was a game with the same theme.

37 · Abhi said

I don't mind if people think that all Indians do this. It will give us some street cred!

Like the thinking ;) Need to work on a slogan for my new t-shirt.

* I survived the Indian baby dropping ritual and all I got was ........

* The great Indian baby dropping ritual, if you weren't there you probably have a pair missing!

* My first excitement!

It's bizarre only to the eyes of bizarre people.

M. Nam

I just hope nobody from the Indian team is down there.

This is a dangerous practice, and the parents are incredibly negligent for continuing to do this.

It is almost as idiotic as riding around with your whole family on a scooter with no helmets.

I have never heard of this strange ritual and I don't think the Southies have any sort of celebration like this (I am a typical Southie). Enlighten me if this is incorrect.

Great thing no responsible adult at the event soiled themselves because just watching the video clip is very painful. All the adults looked very calm in the video. I personally believe the practice of dropping babies must be banned for the obvious safety reason . The other reason for banning is that it makes Desis look a bit odd in the eyes of the world. Perhaps the baby tossers can substitute Cabbage Patch dolls for the real children. That would be a good compromise for all the Louise Woodwards/Michael Jacksons out there.

I cringed every time a baby was dropped in this clip...seriously..what the heck? I don't care how much you believe in the religious beliefs of your village--at some point you've just got to step back and and say, "Aww hell no".

Would make for a good Family guy skit though...

this got india the vote of the strangest country...they were competing with japan.

gm: The other reason for banning is that it makes Desis look a bit odd in the eyes of the world

how can one possibly know every absurd ritual that takes place in india. even if there is banned, there will be yet one more pocket of absurdity uncovered somewhere in that vast country.
i'm so tired of having to tell friends who watch pbs specials.."no, not everyone in india eats rats."

61 · db said

gm: The other reason for banning is that it makes Desis look a bit odd in the eyes of the world

how can one possibly know every absurd ritual that takes place in india. even if there is banned, there will be yet one more pocket of absurdity uncovered somewhere in that vast country.
i'm so tired of having to tell friends who watch pbs specials.."no, not everyone in india eats rats."

I eat rats

I grew up in a small town - Kirloskarwadi in Sangli district in Maharashtra. There is a temple of a local deity "Mayappa" near the place. The deity is much revered in surrounding areas and every year there is a Jatra (a fair) at the place. People used to do the exact same thing there too. I have seen it. Mayappa is a Hindu temple. I have seen this in other parts of Maharashtra too, like in another fair at a place called Jat in Sangli district. The reasoning in the Mayappa temple was that you throw your child into God's arms (Devachi Jholi) and that is supposed to bless the child and strengthen your faith in God. They also butchered chicken and goats at the temple fairly regularly.

I never thought that I would be seeing this on YouTube and discussing about this on Sepia Mutiny. I haven't read all the comments above, but I agree with the person who said this:

Bottom line-nuts are everywhere. Maybe more in India but overall.....everywhere.

I would like to add that almost all of these bizzare traditions come from "faith based initiatives" aka "religions" and most of these "nuts" are "God-nuts". It is time we throw God off the roof.

63 · Sameer said

I would like to add that almost all of these bizzare traditions come from "faith based initiatives" aka "religions" and most of these "nuts" are "God-nuts". It is time we throw God off the roof.

I agree. Religion is bullshit

This and the snake charmers baby vid will nip in the bud the aspirations of many an aspiring desi au pair. This is what ayah used to do with little sahib when memsahib was at the gymkhana

I'm disgusted. What the hell yo.
I would like to contest that religion is the cause of this. Islam eschews all superstition. Unfortuntelay, being stupid isn't a trait of the religious only,
Saif

I'm really puzzled at how deeply embarrassed some of the comments sound, and trying to fix the blame for the existence of baby-dropping on various factors. From a headline writer's perspective, it's tough to write something more succinct than "Indian baby-dropping ritual". It's just another ritual in the world, like the British habit of cheese rolling or the Northern European practice of wife carrying or the American tradition of the demolition derby or the Southern African custom of being circumcised by a spear. It goes without saying that the practices are not universal even within their countries of origin, and spending time vociferously distancing yourself from the practice by invoking region or religion makes you come across as being insecure.

Damn, I missed out as a baby! No nickelodeon, no falling off buildings. Sad.

they’ve been throwing their young children off a tall building to improve their health.

I'm not so sure about this. My parents tried dropping me on my head multiple times, but it obviously didn't fix my problems.

53 · Vivek said

Interestingly, there was a game with the same theme.

Hmm... I used to call myself cicatrix wen I blogged a couple of years back. U be stealer and who be stole from? :P