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Added on the 22/01/2024 07:46:23 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
One Hindu religious holiday takes the phrase 'fighting fire with fire' to a whole other level. Hundreds of Hindu devotees gathered to celebrate Agni Keli, also known as the 'fire fight' in the Indian city of Kateel on Thursday, by throwing burning palm fronds at one another in order to appease Hindu goddess Durga. The annual eight-day celebration takes place every April at the Kateel Durga Parameswari Temple. Devotees split into two groups and face off from a distance of between 30 to 50 feet. The fiery action attracts thousands of spectators, who watch as the torch-wielding men try to set each other ablaze. Each participant only gets 5 palm fronds to throw, so the entire spectacle lasts only about 15 minutes. If any of the worshippers does suffer any burns, they are immediately sprayed with the holy waters of Kumkumarchane. The Hindu goddess Durga, also known as Devi and Shakti, is the goddess of war whose main aim is to fight the demonic forces which threaten the innocent, punishing those who commit injustice. The fronds of Agni Keli are thought to symbolize the righteous anger of Durga and her battle against evil.
India is a very colorful land full of rich history, and, of course, full of religious traditions that many of us may find difficult to understand. The Aadi Perukku ritual, in which worshippers sat on the ground while priests smashed coconuts over their head, is perhaps one of the most unusual. Over 1,000 devotees had coconuts smashed over their heads at the annual Hindu-Tamil festival of Aadi Perukku in Mettu Mahadanapuram on Wednesday.
Kathmandu, Sep 29 (EFE/EPA).- Hindu devotees in Nepal gathered on Wednesday at banks of rivers to perform the Sorha Shraddha ritual to pay homage to their ancestors. Sorha Shraddha is a ritual which falls on the Bhadra month of the Nepalese lunar calendar, beginning with the full moon day and ending with the new moon day. During a 16-day ritual people perform Sharddha, a special worship to commemorate ancestors. (Camera: NARENDRA SHRESTHA).SHOT LIST: NEPALESE PERFORM THE SORHA SHRADDHA RITUAL AT THE BANKS OF THE BAGMATI RIVER AT THE SACRED SHRINE OF LORD SHIVA, GOKARNESWOR SHRINE, NEAR KATHMANDU, NEPAL.
Haridwar, Apr 12 (EFE/EPA).- Thousands of Indian pilgrims Monday gathered and took holy dip during a mass Hindu pilgrimage in Northern India, a ritual that takes place after every twelve years and rotates among four locations.SHOT LIST: INDIAN PILGRIMS TAKE HOLY DIP IN GANGA RIVER DURING THE KUMBH MELA PILGRIMAGE IN HARIDWAR, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA.
Kathmamdu, Feb 19 (EFE/EPA).- A group of Hindu holy people or Sadhus on Wednesday held a religious rally to mark the annual Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri at Pashupati Temple in Kathmandu.Maha Shivratri festival, which is celebrated on Feb 21, sees Hindu devotees from across the country and neighboring India gather to celebrate the birthday of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of creation and destruction, by offering special prayers and fasting. (Camera: NARENDRA SHRESTA).FOOTAGE SHOWS SADHUS PARTICIPATING IN A RELIGIOUS RALLY TO MARK THE ANNUAL HINDU FESTIVAL OF MAHA SHIVRATRI AT PASHUPATI TEMPLE IN KATHMANDU.
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