diwali festival starts today

[dave2]

and the next few days

but i know almost zilch about it so please dont ask !

enjoy parade pics .. dave2

[CMKiwi]

Great pics again Dave...as usual.

Its the Hindu festival of lights... a somewhat more spectacular festival is Thaipusam. Thats where the devotees carry out, what seems to us as some bizzare forms of devotion. One being the carrying a kadavi.

The simplest kavadi is a semicircular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on the shoulders, to the temple. In addition, some have a small spear through their tongue, or a spear through the cheeks. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord Murugan. It also prevents him from speaking and gives great power of endurance. Other types of kavadi involve hooks stuck into the back and either pulled by another walking behind or being hung from a decorated bullock cart or more recently a tractor, with the point of incisions of the hooks varying the level of pain.

Crazy stuff and not for the faint hearted. So in the next few days expect to see a few lanterns and fireworks as part of the Devali celebrations.

[dave2]

re

Its the Hindu festival of lights

thanks for the info on it

its strange that i know more about se asias religion

festivals ceremonies etc than i do english ones

i went out last night to try and get some arty farty

pics of all the rows of candles and stuff but wat sai moon was empty so i rode round for an hour looking for some but didnt find any

so i had a beer in half moon bar and went home with no pics

dave2

pic .. doi suthep ten minuts ago

[daoyai]

The Indian merchants around Gad Luang had candles around their places last night, very low key.