A Bit Of A Feis by derrymacash


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They Sure Know How To Pitch A Party In Pashan Pud! . . . (August 2001, Uttar Pradesh, India) -- Thousands of Indian villagers have celebrated an annual festival by throwing stones at each other. Nearly 250 people were injured during the Pashann Pud stone-throwing event near Nainital in Uttar Pradesh. Doctors report mainly head and eye injuries. Villagers arranged themselves into two groups to throw the stones. The tradition dates back several hundred years to when one member of the community was sacrificed each year to appease the village's goddess. The injured were given first aid on the spot and many were transported to hospital. The victims described their injuries as a "kind of blessing from the goddess", United News Of India reports. In past times, when a chosen young man's parents appealed to the king to spare his life, villagers were ordered to compensate with their blood. There are no rules about the size of stones that can be used during the festival.

A Bit Of A Feis by derrymacash
(To the tune of that classic jig, The Blackthorn Stick!)

In Uttar Pradesh there's a bit of a feis,
Oh Christ, what a sesh!, in oul' Pashan Pud.
The whole place is littered with people in flitters
And others, embittered, are streaming with blood.
There's champion flingers and number one slingers
Their rocks are like Stingers and deadly their aim.
The faintish of heart should refuse to take part
Or drop out at the start of this devilish game.

When struck on the napper, I near came a cropper
But I had a whopper balled up in me fist.
I spied the oul' shite, who near put out me lights
As he threw out of spite and never yet missed.
My aim it was true and I needn't tell you
The air it turned blue as he roared and he raged.
Then he screamed out in pain as I lamped him again
And he lashed out in vain like an animal caged.

But then I got a shock, I got whacked with a rock
Four square in me clock, delivered with force.
I sought out my foe and delivered a blow
And he doesn't yet know the cause or the source.
For his temple I found and he made not a sound
But fell to the ground and he lay as if dead.
Which brought forth a cheer from those to my rear
And made the way clear for our forging ahead.