The sacrificial offering, the so-called "Kavadi", symbolize the wagon on which the penitents accompany the god to the temple. they are fixed with sharp iron hooks piercing the skin of the penitents and are pulled by them in this way. More hooks pierce the skin, sometimes with limes or other fruits on them to weigh down
Great image potraying the pain that devotee is in. Excellent photojournal. Well done.
I am a hindu by birth and have great respect for that religon for its openness and pragmatism. But I just can't fathom the stupidity of these people going arround offering sacrifices and penintence. I feel sorry for the individual here.
What fascinates me and at the same time saddens me is this - How come a great religon like Hinduism where no one is shoving anything down your throat, can give rise to acts of this nature. This man is doing this act of self-harm to himself. Nobody had forced him to do this. BUT WHY !!!!!!
first of all its not sposed to be a "sad" photo.. :) its just what they, hindu, willing to do for god. and if they are honest and sincere, they wont even bleed at all.. on the photo itself, great capture. again u were really close to ur subject :), but the focus its a bit soft
In one of your pictures you say that you say "I have been visiting this town from last 20 years but still everything is same there." As far as i Know Kavandi is a ritual of the Indian comunatie of ( at least ) Malaysia and Singapore. When i took this pictures my intention was not to make anyone sad, only share a bit of other culture with people from all parts fo the world. Most of the problems of the world are caused by ignorance each others cultures. This kind of pictures have no opinion. I was there, i saw it and i took the picture to share here. I never expect coments or ratings on my pictures and I dont have the ambition of beeing the editors choice. I allways hope i can make a small diference and share somthing i know with others. Now, maybe you would like to share with us why do you find sad?
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{K:10688} 4/5/2004
