Thaipusum (The Pilgrim 3)

Cherlyn, I've come back to this and your other two "Pilgrim" shots, and I've read your detailed and educational backgrounds and descriptions on each. I knew I wanted to say something, to let you know I've seen this work, that I'm continuing to visit your gallery, but I went away speechless each time. It took me awhile to sort out what these make me feel, and I think Pnina gets very close in terms of my western acculturated mind not being used to or even exposed much to this kind of practice. I have read about various religious rituals that include inflicting pain, or I should say doing things to the body that I would expect to hurt. Anyway, it is difficult for me to actually see images of it, especially this one that looks like the man is in pain. I guess he was for a brief time, then back into his trance?

All that said, what I've come to is the idea that what you're doing here, and with the other two companion pictures, is showing us something we need to see and need to at least accept and respect, whether we understand or not. You're doing something important and courageous with these images, and testament to that is how difficult I've found it to look at them, yet I'm drawn back because they are so very powerful.

On this one, in particular, the power is all the more amplified by your use of selective color (as Pnina already said), and all three in this series are certainly up to your usual fine level of craft. Thank you for making it possible for me to see a part of human life I'd likely not seek, and probably never see without your help.

Incredible what one can endure in his/her belief :) great capture dear Cherlyn :)

Thank you for sharing :)))

bibi