Sun Jan 05 01:57:34 UTC 2025: ## Daredevil Descent: 65-Year-Old Performs Ancient Rope Slide in Himachal Pradesh
**Shimla, Himachal Pradesh –** A rare and ancient religious tradition captivated thousands in the remote village of Dalgaon, Shimla, this weekend. The highlight of the four-day Bhunda Maha Yagya festival was a breathtaking, and slightly perilous, rope slide performed by 65-year-old Surat Ram.
Ram, a member of the Beda caste, slid over a kilometer down a steep incline on a wooden raft, traversing what’s known locally as the “valley of death.” The feat, performed using a specially prepared sacred rope (“munji”), which took two and a half months to create, involved strict adherence to rituals including celibacy and silence. The rope, lubricated with oil for a smoother descent, added to the spectacle.
A tense moment occurred when the rope briefly slipped from the hands of those securing it at the bottom, before being quickly regained. This dramatic incident only heightened the already intense atmosphere surrounding the event, which brings together the deities of the Spail Valley.
The ritual, last performed by Ram in 1985, drew a large crowd, including Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu. The Bhunda Maha Yagya festival, running from January 2nd to 5th, also features processions of deities carried in palanquins, accompanied by traditional music. The event showcases the vibrant cultural heritage of the region.
First Piper 