India is a place of contrasts, it is a country that has a modern booming economy, and at the same time with old bustling markets, which are exactly the same five hundred years ago. While it is true that India in some respects is a fully Westernized nation, they still maintain ancient and strange rites. Next we will know some of them.
Let's start by mentioning the fact that in India there are people who walk on fire. Yes, some people celebrate the Theemithi festival by walking barefoot on the ember and charcoal burning. The walk of the devotees is made in honor of the Hindu goddess Draupati Amman, resisting all pain, although of course the participants suffer from burns on their feet and sometimes serious injuries.
We should also mention the hooking ritual. At the Thookam festival you can see the backs of Hindu devotees which are pierced by sharp hooks. These people are lifted off the ground with a scaffold and with the help of ropes.
The tradition of fighting bull Known as Jallikattu, unlike its Spanish counterpart, it is made without the aid of any weapon. Fortunately, the life of the bull is also saved after the bullfight and it is that as you well know, bulls and cows are sacred in India.
Also striking is the custom of self-flagellation. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar, and this is the month that marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala, when Imam Hussein ibn Ali was killed, followed by 72 warriors who died in the next ten days. Shiite Muslims in India, and also in other countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, mourn this event and flagellate their naked bodies with a lot of chains.
Further information: Traditions and Customs of India
Source: Listverse
Photos: Postcards from Singapore