The youngsters in the neighboring villages of Parsawa and Laxmipur hurl insults at each other, their neighbors, villagers and passers-by -— and then laugh. They gather in parks and other areas around straw heaped in the shape of a phallus to launch into the insults. Insults like, “Monkey face, I hope your sons are as ugly as frogs,” and “I hope your buffaloes die of diarrhea,” ring out along with more obscene curses. Village elders say the annual festival, which is just for youngsters, has been going on for as long as they can remember. “I know of this tradition from long ago and took part during my youth,” 78-year-old Ram Kumar Mishra told AFP by telephone from the region.