It's never dung me any harm... Parents roll children and babies in COW MANURE in Indian village where locals believe it protects them from disease 

• Parents have been rolling their children in cow dung in an Indian village 
• They believe the manure brings children good luck and a healthy life 
• The practice takes place after India's biggest Hindu festival, Diwali 
• Cows are sacred in Hindu faith and they they believe the dung has medicinal properties 

By Jennifer Newton for MailOnline

Published: 09:47 GMT, 3 December 2015 | Updated: 14:14 GMT, 3 December 2015

Its a tradition that Indians believe will bring their children good luck and protect them from disease.

And scores of parents have been lining up in the tiny village of Betul in Madhya Pradesh to roll their youngsters in cow pat.

People in the small village believe that smearing the dung on their young sons and daughters help to give them a healthy life free from ailments.

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A young boy cries out after his father throws him on a pile of cow dung in the small Indian village of Betul 

 

 People in the small village believe that smearing the dung on their young sons and daughters help to give them a healthy life free from ailments

They also say that the 'purity' of the cow dung will bring the children good luck.

The practice is followed a day after Diwali - the biggest Indian celebration, also known as the festival of lights.

In the weeks leading up to Diwali, people in the village collect cow dung and store it in huge piles.

On the day after the celebration, a special prayer is offered to the Hindu Gods, before people start dipping their children, some still on babies, in the pool of dung.

Young babies were also rolled in the dung in the practice, which comes the day after the Hindu festival of Diwali 

Groups of villagers gather around the heap and wait for their turn to place their children in the excrement.

The practice continues from dusk until dawn until each child in the village has had their turn.

The bizarre ritual has been followed for centuries and locals says their children have benefited because of the dipping.

A man guides his child towards the pile of dung and even picks some of it up, and rubs in into the youngster's forehead 

 

A little boy sits in the manure after being thrown in by his parents. Many Hindu preachers believe that cow urine and dung have medicinal properties

The cow is considered one of the most sacred animals in Hinduism and they are worshipped as revered creatures.

Many Hindu preachers believe that cow urine and dung have medicinal properties.

Meanwhile cow slaughter and the consumption of beef is banned in certain parts of India.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3344099/It-s-never-dung-harm-Parents-roll-children-babies-COW-MANURE-Indian-village-locals-believe-protects-disease.html