An actor killed a pig live on stage and ate a part of its thigh during a folk play in India.
The man, who was playing the part of a 'demon', picked up the young white piglet, killed it and took bites from its hind legs.
At the start of the scene in Ganjam district in Odisha the actor dragged the still live animal around the stage using rope tied to its back legs.
He then stood on the pig's back and cut the animal to reveal a stream of blood coming from its body.
Wearing a traditional jatra costume complete with a colourful mask, shin and arm pads as well as teeth painted on his bare stomach, the actor then lifted the pig up to take bites from it.
After gnawing on the raw pig carcass, the bare chested man turned to the crowd and marched around the stage as traditional music played in the background.
He then returned to take two more bites, sinking his teeth into the animal as it dangled from a rope.
The scene was played out in front of a large crowd as many recorded footage on their phones.
The bizarre performance was filmed during a jatra performance, which is a traditional folk theatre popular in many states of India.
Folk artists who perform on stage find ways to spice up their shows but rarely go to the extent of the actor in the recent performance.
However, animal rights activists in Odisha slammed the ritual and are trying to track down the perpetrator.
Subhendu Mallik, general secretary of Snake Helpline, Bhubaneswar, said: 'Officials should arrest this man and the show organisers for violation of animal welfare laws. They should also make sure that such shows are strongly discouraged.
Jatras - which originated in West Bengal - are usually epic four-hour-long plays, preceded by a musical concert often lasting an hour, used to attract audiences.
The plays are usually held outdoors on large stages surrounded on all sides by audience members, with a gangway leading off-stage.
Jatras typically feature high-energy performances, loud music, harsh lighting, extravagant props and elaborate costumes.
While Jatra is a declining artform, in 2005 it was estimated to be a $21million-per-year industry with 55 troupes based in Calcutta's old jatra district alone.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
