Although the event was jam-packed, we managed to find a decent place to watch the parade. The main spectacle is the many men who have spears pierced through their skin - backs, chests, legs, tongues - and either carry a cage-like structure adorned with colorful decorations and pictures of Hindu gods or pull an altar of sorts by hooks pierced into their back. Ouch! Women carry pots on their heads. Families bring water and food and move through the parade together. The journey is 4.5k... this is a long journey for these men. At times they need to sit - a stool is provided and help is given for them to rest. We saw one young guy... maybe a teenager... with a huge cage and many spikes get water given to him as he rested. In addition to just walking this distance with sharp skewer looking things spiking through their bodies and much weight being carried, they danced. Yes! They did a little ritual dance and the families sang and drummed and chanted... it was a fanatastic spectacle.
The full celebration lasts for days, with fasting and offerings being made to Lord Subrahmanya.
In this case, pictures are definitely worth a thousand words. It was difficult to capture on camera with the action and crowds, but here are a few (I apologize for the sideways photos... they aren't sideways on my computer, but I can't figure out how to post them here correctly)...
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| Walking on nails |
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| One of the cage-like structures attached with spikes/spears |
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| See the spiked tongue? |
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| Each spear is driven into his skin |
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| Water break |
The event was vibrant and full of energy... just how gratitude should feel.
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