Halfway back down to sea level, we are back in Ella, where we got together 7 months ago. Brief spasms of thunder and rain in the land of waterfalls (Ella means waterfall in Sinhala). Tonight we lucked into a raucous Hindu ceremony parading up and down the main drag - a “private” ceremony for 2 men who are giving thanks for some successful venture in their lives by engaging in these extreme acts of mortification of the flesh. There is a bellowing street band of horns and drums, throngs of dancers, and 3 trucks - the first 2 have entire palm trunks lashed to their chassis from which the 2 men are suspended by hooks that pierce their flesh. the 3rd truck tows the technicolor shrine to Murugan, the peacock god, and is followed by throngs of women who clap and sing and ring little bells at the foot of the shrine. I got some fantastic video footage, but alas, these photos and your imagination will have to suffice…
1 Comment
pat
9/4/2016 04:26:35 pm
My god, that's terrible but I'm glad that you splurged the last time you were there.
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