The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp and their Temple are nestled in the woods on the mountain across the street from here. Yesterday they celebrated Kavadi, a religious Hindu festival. Offering of a Kavadi filled with self-torture and suffering at every step promises peace and good luck.
It is said that thousands of devotees attend - yes, no parking to be found in a radius of 3 km. They drive in from near and far and all hope to be amongst the first ones to arrive in order to park as close as possible to the Ashram. The procession starts at 9.30 in the morning and ends at 3 in the afternoon. They walk on gravel and asphalt.
the young ones flashed their feet in a different way
This man rolled down the entire stretch of more than 1 km paved road
and this devotee seems to have needed to impose the severest penance on himself
Maybe I should have photographed more of the beautiful dresses but I overcame my shyness to late to do so.
4 comments:
Definitely a splash of colour on the grey asphalt. Amazing!
By the look of things, western culture was not alone in punishing the flesh for religious reasons. My current toothache (uninduced!) is enough for me. Good to hear from you though!
Ooh, that last one is really bottom-clenching. Nice saris though.
Rouchswalwe!
Yes, and more than enough of everything.
Tom!
If you found toothache relief other than painkillers or dentist, let me know.
And, concerning self-punishment, I
feel that physical pain is easier to endure than psychological pain.
Lucy!
Yes, sari. This is why I write less and less. Know the right words but can't find them when I need them and am becoming more and more self-conscious about that.
And, I did not know the expression 'bottom-clenching' and prior to googling it I could only think of the time somebody said to me 'it tasted so sour that it sucked my shirt up my bottom'.
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