India's Supreme Court Thursday banned a socio-religious order from staging a frenzied dance ritual in public in which occultist participants brandish daggers, snakes and even human bones.
A three-judge bench agreed to ban the Ananda Margi Hindu order from performing the tandav or "dance of anger", overturning a Calcutta High Court ruling permitting the procession.
The Marxist government of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal had appealed against the Calcutta court's decision, with counsel arguing that the government feared street fights would break out during the processions.
The ritual regularly bring thousands of Anand Margis on to the streets brandishing tridents, daggers, skulls, snakes and human bones.
The Supreme Court verdict was condemned by the Ananda Margi Hindu order.
Krishnanda Abhadyut, Anand Margis spokesman in Calcutta, said: "The court should not interfere in our religious rites. If it is banned it will be a curse on the religious freedom of the people of India.
"What is to be done and not to be done during religious rites should be decided by our religious gurus, not the courts."