Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, about 1,500 gathered for the funeral of a monkey at a village in Madhya Pradesh.
Mourning the monkey's death on December 29, residents of Dalupura village in Rajgarh district organised last rites.
Visuals show a funeral procession with hymns being chanted as people carry the bier to the cremation site. A youth named Hari Singh also shaved his head in keeping with Hindu rituals.
The monkey was not a pet, but frequented the village.
After last rites, villagers pooled in money and organised a feast for more than 1,500 people. Cards were printed and distributed, inviting villagers to the feast.
A video of the feast showed hundreds of people sitting in rows under a pandal. Women and children are seen eating as men serve food.
The gatherings took place at a time when Madhya Pradesh is in the throes of Covid surge powered by the new fast-spreading Omicron strain.
Reports said police have registered a case for violation of Covid protocols and arrested two people as many other villagers are hiding away fearing action.