Thaipusum (The Pilgrim 3)

The final one to my Thaipusum Pilgrim series. The devotees who go through this process say they don't feel any pain because they are in a spiritual and devotional trance which brings them closer to Lord Murugan. The trance can be induced by chanting, drumming and incense.

 

I load this photo to share an emotional impact that I felt while I was following this procession. It was outside a temple, when this pilgrim who seems to be in trance all this while, suddenly shouted, & jumped around, slapping his own head & forehead, as if in pain. I couldn't resist taking a step back with a moment of fear. I was thinking maybe he was awake from his trance & felt the pain of the pierce through his cheek. His follower behind shouted to the seniors infront, pointing desperatedly at this pilgrim. Someone came over, wrap a towel/kerchief around his forehead. And then this pilgrim suddenly seem ok / recover from his pain, & continue with the procession.

 

Though I was not unfamiliar with this culture as its a yearly affair in our county, it's still a most unforgettable encounter for me.

It does to the uninitiated appear a very violent process, but the fact is

that they have a faith - a knowledge - after a period of time that this is

not going to cause pain, that the divine will not allow his devotees to

suffer on his behalf. So I guess that is what is behind the Thaipusum

festival spirits.

Wow! makes me wonder, perhaps some kind of natural anestitic/hallucinagenic is added to towell, ?

This must have been quite an interesting trip though , simply glad we dont have to do things like this ...Ouch !

Ps.thanks for stopping in and reviewing my tricolored heron ,I posted a strange looking green bird that i found in my front yard bird feeder ,It is not in the north american bird guide put out by the smithsonian institue that i use ,,Have you ever scene this bird or can you id it ?thanks Jeff

wow a very strenght image. i like it much but i think it works the same with all colors. so very nice shot and very impressive subject!

bye

Powerful color against b&w for intensified emotional storytelling. Part of the color-- wilting flowers-- seems to match a loss of innocence, a little death, associated w/ this event. The men in the back narrate the feel of the scene.

Cherlyn, a lot of emotion packed in this one and a creative twist with the desaturated bg. Nicely captured and rendered!

I like how you've desaturated the background to place emphasis on the pilgrim. This is both fascinating and excruciating to look at.

Impressive series,Cherlyn!Great rendering.

Cheers,Jim

Yes, eye catching! unusual presentation, Cherlyn! Best regards

I don't care how often I see this... I don't think anyone will ever convince me these people are sane.

 

An interesting documentary image.

Very emotional shot.

very good series of document. good treatment and capture. in my cuntry there are similiar secene either. sometimes we may wonder how a human body can bear the suffer out of a ritual belief. thanks for sharing them. regards.

Again , well presented and hard for a westerm eye like mine to look at;-)) Visiting Indonesia some years ago, I saw a ceremony, showing how people were entering a trance, it looks here as well. I like the B/W conversion of the BG.you have really well documented it for us ,Cherlyn. ( and Spencer too...)

Demasiado dolorosa para mi, pero es un bn doento.

Saludos.

For me, this is the most effective and disturbing of them. Mutilation of the face and genitalia are probably the most upsetting to a Western psyche.

Una magnifica serie,Cherlyn.Un documento impresionante,me gusta como has destacado y dado protagonismo al peregrino, mediante el color sobre el fodo en b&w.Felicidades.

 

Un cordial saludo -Tolo.

Thanks Cherlyn (I had already this experience with SJL) to show this, it still makes my stomach upset, it is hard to look at... you made it even more 'interesting' because of the color and B&W

 

-with love Els

Fabulous series. The selective color isolates very well the subject. The details and the light are really good. Warm regards. Glauco

This is very hard to view for me so I can't ever imagine being there. Congrats to you for shooting some outstanding photography. I have seen all three photos and this one is the most emotional. Your exposure and depth of field are perfect as well as your choice to go with the b/w background.

Very original and strong photo.

strong and well composed. Ciao.

Thanks for sharing,Cherlyn, much appreciated.

Really impressive documentary portraiture work Cherlyn.

Unique expression showing his suffering.

The chromatic effect enhances the impression. Congrats.

 

Realy good document, vary interesting made. Warm regards.

Impresionante documento Cherlyn. Saludos