We had planned to go to a pretty garden, sit on a shady bench and spend the morning reading and relaxing. But the park was inexplicably closed so we now found ourselves wandering with no real aim in the Mumbai heat.
We spotted bright colours, commotion and drumming across the road and thought that this might be an early Holi celebration. We crossed to take a closer look and saw that it was something quite different.
Behind a makeshift screen, long rods were pierced through mens’ cheeks. They appeared one by one looking dizzy and sometimes sick and were helped to join the other men in line.
Their feet were washed and touched by women carrying offerings on their heads.
You could tell from their faces that this incredible act took a lot of concentration – the rods were very long and looked heavy so balancing was obviously not easy. Women kept them hydrated with bottles of water and even Fanta!
Leading this procession of pierced men was a man wearing an altar made from a metal frame and spears and bearing the image of the Hindu God Ganesh.
Behind them was a man pulling another altar on wheels with hooks which were pierced through his back. Behind him was another man who, incredibly, was pulling a car in the same way.
I must admit I got quite squeamish.
All through this the drumming was incredible and men and women were dancing in a trance-like way.
Once everyone was pierced, the procession made it’s way up the road, halting traffic in all directions!
We have since read that this festival is celebrated in Southern India as well as other countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. The event we witnessed was just a small community but they created a fascinating and entrancing atmosphere.
I am very glad that park was shut today.
