Daring Daredevils: Stuntmen risk everything to ride on the 'Wall of Death'

The sport is the centre piece of festivals across India but only a handful of the cylindrical structures remain in use in the vast country.

Having grown up watching the sport, Indian photographer Siddharth Kaneria snapped up the opportunity to capture the breathtaking stunts performed by the fearless performers.

Kaneria said: “Hundreds of spectators crowd around a circular pit to witness daredevil drivers in cars and motorcycles performing stunts in a vertical pit known as the Wall of Death.

“Once a sight at festivals across Northern India, the practice is now waning but that doesn’t stop festival goers and stuntmen from capitalising on the few remaining Walls of Death in the country.”

Beginning in the UK decades ago, the sport was eventually transported to India, where pedal bicycles were later replaced by motorcycles and Indian daredevils added cars into the mix.

These daredevils put their skills to the test during the Janmashtami festival in Rajkot, Gujarat state in September 2016.

Although the stunt performers were the main attraction, the festival also offered magic shows, amusement rides and flea markets.

While none of the drivers suffered any injury, Kaneria did say there was some fleeting anger between stuntmen as they snuck a new trick into the performance.

He said: “In one of the performances it became a bit risky when they were passing a balloon from one moving car to another, which made one of their team a bit upset because of the extra risk.”

Despite lasting for just 30 minutes, the show drew hundreds of spectators who feverishly cheered on the stuntmen as they mounted the walls and waved to their adoring audience.

The performers travel with the arena and the impressive structure is set up by the stuntmen in the week before the festival.

Kaneria said: “For the audience it’s like a must see experience - you can feel each vibration of their bike or car through the wall that you’re holding or standing on.

“Their stunts are beyond imagination and anything a normal human can perform.

“I’ve been seeing them since childhood but this was quite a unique experience to witness them from the inside out.

“The few days I spent with the daredevils, their stunts, stories and thrilling experiences are unforgettable.

“I didn’t just see their skills, I saw how they are each built as a person and how they maintain the Wall of Death.”

Although their love for the sport remains strong, many of the performers worry about the future of the sport as public interest dwindles.

One of the performers said: “People are no longer coming to visit fairs. Television is the biggest cause, most people would prefer to see daredevil and stunt shows in TV shows and films.

“Even the government is doing nothing about this situation - we risk our lives everyday to entertain live but there is no future in this business.”