5 Very Strange Rituals and Traditions in India
Selasa, 23 Maret 2021
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India is a country with very strange and unique cultures, civilizations, and rituals. Much of this culture has been around for a long time and is still preserved today.
Some parts of India are developing like major cities in other countries. However, there are also some people who still hold fast to traditions that are sometimes considered strange and sometimes terrible when viewed.
Below we will explain the 5 strange rituals and traditions in India, before discussing the culture that exists in India, get used to reading to the end in order to add knowledge and experience.
Here are 5 Very Strange Rituals and Traditions in India
- Thaipoosam
- Throwing Babies
- Festival Thookam
- Ritual Aghori
- Ritual of walking on fire
1. Thaipoosam
Thaipoosam is a Hindu festival that is mostly celebrated by the Tamil community during the full moon. During this festival, people injure themselves to expect blessings from the gods. They can use hooks, spear tools to pierce their own bodies.
Some people even aggravate themselves. Some try to pull tractors or other heavy objects with ropes attached to leather hooks. There are also people who deliberately perforate their own tongues and cheeks. The point is that they can't talk so they can concentrate on their God.
2. Baby tossed
This baby throwing ritual is performed every December, approximately one hundred babies will be thrown from the roof of the temple to the crowd below who are ready to catch the baby. The babies were thrown from a height of 60 meters and a group of men waited underneath with special sheets or cloth to catch the baby being thrown from above.
They believe that this ritual will give blessings to married couples and allow them to have more children. According to them, this ritual can also bring health and fortune to his family. But due to its extremely dangerous nature, the Indian government plans to ban the rituals that are usually performed in the south of Karnataka.
3. Thookam Festival
In ancient times Thookam Festival was once performed by Hindus in India in Kerala Region. But this tradition is now rarely done because it is strictly forbidden by the government. During the festival, men are stabbed from behind with hooks made of sharp iron, then lifted and hung with ropes.
Legend has it that Dewi Kali is still not satisfied and thirsty after killing Darika. Then Vishnu then sent Garuda to quench Kali's thirst. The thookam ritual is performed based on the belief of the legend.
4. Aghori Ritual
The Aghori are a Hindu group that worships Lord Shiva but in extreme ways. Aghori are known to perform death-related rituals, even including cannibalism and necrophilia or they have to have sex or sex with corpses.
The Aghori often lived in graves, and they also rubbed cremated ashes all over their bodies. Not only that, they also made mugs of skulls like Shiva did. They also wear human bones as accessories. But other Hindus oppose the Aghori practice because it is contrary to Hindus and not the same as other Hindus.
5. Ritual of walking on fire
In India there is a very extreme ritual, called Theemithi. During this ritual, one must pass through a hole that has been filled with charcoal with bare feet. This ritual was performed apparently aimed at honoring the Draupadi amman.
Why is that in honor of Dropadi, they should not run fast through this charcoal field, they must walk slowly. Some people who follow in this ritual their feet are equally burned, or even their bodies will burn, if they fall on the embers.
Those are the five rituals in India that seem very strange and absurd at all but they do exist. Fortunately, some of these rituals and ceremonies have been banned and rarely performed because they are considered dangerous and can injure and harm themselves and others. It is true that the ritual is performed to show obedience and obedience in religion, so banning the ritual will be very difficult because it is used to be done.