Balasore: As night falls over Nilagiri in Balasore district, a strange and dramatic scene unfolds. People rush into the streets, only to scatter moments later in fear. A man, with blood-red vermilion on his forehead and a sharp axe in hand, charges through the crowd. But this is not a scene from a horror film—this is Bali Khela, a unique ritual held during Durga Puja that reenacts ancient human sacrifices in a symbolic way.

The Bali Khela ritual is deeply tied to the worship of Maa Kanakdurga, the royal goddess of the Nilagiri kingdom. According to history and local legends, this tradition dates back to the 12th century, when human sacrifices were offered to the goddess during the midnight of Durga Ashtami.

Today, the practice no longer involves real sacrifices. Instead, the ritual has

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