it's thaipusam

this was somewhat of an interesting day. walking to the subway this morning I couldn't help but notice a parade of Indians, their bodies pierced with hooks and rods either supporting giant metal shrines around them or pulling carted shrines attached with hooks to their backs- and then the occasional one with about 30 limes attached to his back with hooks like some twisted citrus christmas tree. each surrounded by an entourage chanting and giving support hoping the human pincushions would materialize their enthusiasm by dancing and spinning in circles while continuing down the parade route. Though this seems like a strange seen, i was unphased, realizing it's just the Thaipusam festival and the parade route just happens to pass just down the street from my place. There is bound to be some significant religious reasoning for this holiday but the details have been lost on me since the first time i ever saw it three years ago (that's what wikipedia is for anyway). The only reason I was shocked today was that one year had passed so quickly since the last one and I didn't realize the festival was today at all.

After work I headed down to the festival and met a few friends, watched some of the parade and had dinner in little india. Since my camera is broken and I don't have a new one yet I'm posting some images from last year and also from 3 years ago when I first saw the festival.