Babies Thrown 50ft Off Temple

This is the most cracker thing i've ever heard:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641314661

2:10pm UK, Thursday May 01, 2008

The bizarre ritual of throwing newborn babies off a temple 50ft high and catching them in a cloth sheet has been observed in India.

Babies are thrown from a temple

Devotees at a Muslim shrine in western India's Maharashtra state believe the act makes children stronger.

It is practised by couples who are blessed with a child after taking a vow at the Baba Sheikh Umar Saheb 'Dargah' (the Muslim place of worship) in the Musti village of Solapur.

The ritual has been observed for more than 500 years.

The devotees believeit is good for the health of the child but some onlookers were visibly shaken by it.

Locals claim no child who has been thrown has suffered any physical disability.

The ritual is observed by both Muslims and Hindus every year and takes place amid tight security.

One mother, named Jayashree, said: "If you do this, it is good for the child.

"They become healthy. It is to get the blessings of God. The babies are between nine months and 11 months old or sometimes are of even less age."

Another mother said: "It is to give them courage, intelligence and strength. This is an old tradition.

"These people have been doing this and we will continue to do this."

A health department worker added: "People have fear and devotion for the God. People do this so that the child becomes courageous. This is what people want. They feel it would benefit them."