NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian police have charged 80 people for burying children alive in an ancient Hindu ceremony known as "the festival of pits."

The ceremony, in which children -- some less than a year old -- are buried alive briefly and then dug up, happened on Monday in southern Tamil Nadu state, The Asian Age reported on Thursday.

Authorities have been trying for years to stop it and people found guilty face up to three years in jail and or a fine of 5000 rupees ($114).

Every two years, parents who have vowed to bury their first-born if they are blessed with a child, take part in the Kuzhimattru Thiru Vizha ceremony.

The children are drugged to make them unconscious and placed in shallow "graves" in temple courtyards. The pits are covered with leaves and dirt and the children are pulled out after Hindu priests chant a brief prayer -- lasting up to a minute.
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Poor kids...

Brutual .. What the hell are those people thinking?

well... all I can say is I wouldn't do it...

glad it's not a report about them raping them or really killing them or selling them to slavery or something... yeah I think it's nuts, but it's their culture... they can have it too far as I'm concerned.

Well as long as the children aren't hurt...I guess I don't see a huge problem with it...I guess? It is kind of barbaric though and I certainly wouldn't put any of my own children through something like that....If I had any that is.

i geus some people would do anything to have a child. these people tried prayer and this sounds like their way af thanking the gods. is sounds like the children wernt hurt. and were asleep so where is the harm? i agree that it is a barbaric practic but it is their culture there are alot of things that culture frowns upon that even americans do. like carrying a gun in public that used to be a common practice here but is still done. what i really want to know is why arrest these people when none was hurt by their actions?

I agree with you

I wonder if any children were actually hurt by this practice is why it is illegal? There is some reason behind the fact or it wouldn't be illegal to begin with. What an odd practice though.

Very odd.....as awful as it sounds, if they left them for dead it might make more sense as far as sacrifices go; but they just dust them with dirt, etc. and haul them right back out? Very strange....

It may seem cruel and wrong to us but its part of their culture and no real harm comes to the child, but if it ever does then I support any charges being laid aginst them, if nothing goes wrong then let them continue with their practices!

Yes, I suppose you're right. Live and let live, but don't hurt the kiddies!

god damn thats brutal and harsh

What the hell! Only three years? That's sick! Stupid evil idiots!

Well, as people have said, it's their culture (and I am assuming it has religious implications). I think it's bizarre, but it doesn't sound like the kids are harmed or (if they are asleep) traumatized.

Well that's because it's not a sacrifice. It sounds more like a cleansing ritual. I don't think they would want to harm the child. It's only a shallow grave and doesn't last more than a minute.

when does a shallow dirt hole covered with leaves become a grave?

Well it's obviously a symbolic grave for the negativity they want to bury and be cleansed by the earth.

There...I think that hid the fact that I couldn't think what else to call it.
Damn, how the hell do you make text invisible?

You don't

I don't agree with it, but you can hardly call it crazy. It's part of their culture and heritage.

But I remember someone did on a post a while back.

Weird, but at least the kids don't know what's happening.

It sounds symbolic, almost like a re-birth.

Well, I guess as long as no-one is harmed, and the children are drugged, it's not as bad as it sounds.

Still a pretty harsh ritual though...

I didn't see that part bout drugging them. Does anyone know what drug it is? Could it have any unwanted side-effects?

whoa some people are just nuts