throughthebrowneyes
Devotion_of another kind
Every year devotees throng the streets of Trivandrum with their bodies pierced...essentially a 'nercha' (a vow) taken in order to fulfill some wish.
This is an annual sight at the Shivaratri festival here. Though i had taken a few pictures last year, I was stunned to see such young children in the procession this time around. I actually found it rather disturbing...maybe because no child would (sub)consciously make a decision like this, I'm not saying that the children are forced into it...but still its odd, to put children through this (some looked as young as 4-5 yrs)
Devotion_of another kind
Every year devotees throng the streets of Trivandrum with their bodies pierced...essentially a 'nercha' (a vow) taken in order to fulfill some wish.
This is an annual sight at the Shivaratri festival here. Though i had taken a few pictures last year, I was stunned to see such young children in the procession this time around. I actually found it rather disturbing...maybe because no child would (sub)consciously make a decision like this, I'm not saying that the children are forced into it...but still its odd, to put children through this (some looked as young as 4-5 yrs)