Around 35 hurt in the annual Hingot fight in Gautampura near Indore; high nets, police and ambulances deployed as two sustained serious injuries.

Around 35 people were injured during the annual Hingot fight in Gautampura near Indore on the second day of Diwali, renewing debate over the safety of the centuries-old custom. The “Hingot” tradition pits two local groups — the Turra from Gautampura and the Kalangi from Runji — against each other in a controlled battlefield where participants throw hollowed, gunpowder-filled Hingot fruits that explode like hand-thrown fireballs. The spectacle draws large crowds but regularly causes burns, fractures and other injuries.
Block Medical Officer Dr. Vandana Kesari told PTI that about 35 participants were hurt, two seriously; one sustained a broken arm and others suffered nasal and burn injuries. Local authorities had set up protective nets, barricades and deployed roughly 200 police officers, 100 administrative staff, fire engines and ambulances to manage the event, but injuries still mounted as the fight escalated. Officials say the tradition dates back some 200 years to Holkar-era guerrilla tactics and continues despite occasional calls for bans after previous accidents.
Critics argue public safety must trump tradition when repeated incidents cause harm, while supporters say the ritual is an important part of local identity and is tightly managed with policing and medical readiness. Last year seven people were wounded in the same fight and authorities did not outlaw it; similarly this year the administration allowed the event under strict supervision. For coverage that ranks, target long-tail queries such as “Hingot fight Indore injuries 2025,” “Gautampura Hingot tradition explained,” and “Diwali Hingot fight safety measures” alongside short keywords like “Hingot fight” and “Indore Diwali injuries.” Add local quotes, hospital updates and any official orders to boost topical authority and search traction.