Trance, Body Piercing and Devotion in Kaavady in Kerala

Verses in the pristine and pure Sanskrit flow from the mouth of the priest with his back here as he leads the actual prayer with the 4 tranced devotees strung up on trusses with large hooks in their skin.

 

Black smoke spewed and sputtered ever so briefly out of the ceremonial fire that marks every Hindu religious prayer. Flowers hung in the air as if stitched in a tapestary of devotion. Much like confetti over the poignant grey skies of Trivandrum. That day it was humid and hot and it rained as well. The high priest holding the ceremonial plate with the fire in it seemed to be the power house of the temple. He also did the actual piercing in the skin and the mouth.

 

 

Dates

Taken on March 19, 2008 at 5.00pm IST (edit)

Posted to Flickr October 4, 2011 at 2.11AM IST (edit)

Replaced on Flickr October 4, 2011

Exif data

Camera Nikon D70

Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)

Aperture f/7.1

Focal Length 18 mm

ISO Speed 200

Exposure Bias 0 EV

Flash Auto, Fired, Return detected

 

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