Getting a tattoo of your favorite music band in your pores and skin or getting a hoop pierced in your ears and nostril are methods of constructing your self really feel distinctive and distinct from the gang. Such acts are labeled beneath what is called ‘Physique Modification,’ which refers back to the deliberate alteration of 1’s look to claim some type of identification.
Whereas tattoos and piercings usually are not dangerous, individuals additionally interact in excessive types of modifications which might be detrimental to their well being. Beauty surgical procedure is one such means by which many individuals alter their our bodies to really feel “good” by both the society’s or their definition.
The talk on whether or not such acts are good or dangerous has been occurring for years. Nonetheless, what sort of company can one place on practices which might be historically rooted in faith and cultures and carried out by those that wish to take part in such institutionalized practices?
The Rituals Of Thaipusam
Thaipusam is one such cultural pageant in India wherein devotees interact in excessive and dangerous types of piercings on their physique. It’s a celebration wherein individuals of Kerala worship and have a good time Kartikeya, also referred to as God Murugan.
The devotees consider that on at the present time, the deity defeated an evil demon named Sooryapadmen utilizing his spear known as the “Vel.”
Additionally Learn: Read About These People Who Underwent Extreme Body Modification To Look Like Animals
The celebration has been traditionally believed to push back any type of hassle or evil energy and has been an indication of gratitude in the direction of the deity. Kavadi Attam is one such exercise the place devotees carry a picket provider filled with choices for the deity and dance to have a good time.
Nonetheless, they don’t carry these pots on their palms or shoulders. These vessels are held on rods and spikes which might be normally pierced into completely different components of their our bodies. There are completely different meanings related to the completely different sorts of piercings.
The Garudan Thookkam, or Eagle Hanging, is one wherein an individual is hung utilizing hooks pierced by means of the pores and skin on their backs and paraded by means of the streets. They don’t seem to be even allowed to make use of any painkillers. The act is believed to provide them extra endurance.
There are additionally cases of devotees strolling over burning coals, and pulling big carts by hooks pierced into their physique.
Not Simply in Kerala and India
This pageant can be celebrated in Tamil Nadu and different South Asian nations reminiscent of Malaysia and Singapore. In Malaysia, it’s a public vacation. Hindu pilgrims flock to the Bata Caves of Kuala Lumpur, the place they climb 272 steps to achieve the principle temple.
There have been talks of banning the pageant in Singapore due to its very harmful nature. Therefore, the celebration has decreased within the nation nevertheless, it’s nonetheless practised in Kerala and Malaysia.
The Debate on Physique Modification
There may be not a lot info obtainable about this cultural apply because it has develop into normalised in accordance with the anthropological evolution of various human cultures. The pageant has not been contested by anybody within the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Whereas many nations such because the UK have mentioned the legalities of such acts, it has not come to India as a result of synthetic modifications usually are not in vogue right here but. Therefore, festivals like Thaipusam would go on to persuade younger males and boys to participate in such excessive piercings as a result of they’re normalised in Indian tradition.
Picture Credit: Google Photos
Sources: Times Now News, CNN Travel, The Culture Trip
Discover the blogger: @aiswaryanil
This publish is tagged beneath: physique modification, physique piercings, tattoos, harmful acts, non secular acts, thaipusam, what’s thaipusam, the place is thaipusam celebrated, the non secular pageant of thaipusam, mouth and cheek piercings, non secular practices, harmful non secular practices, cultural practices, murugan, kerala, tamil nadu, malaysia, kuala lampur, singapore, eccentric festivals all over the world
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