Here in the Himalayas, each year the villagers bring their village God down into the Kullu Valley, to pay homage to the great God, Rama. These Gods are represented as effigies, and are carried in palanquins for many days. They converge in the town of Dhalpur, where the 300 or so Gods engage in what's known as the "Running of the Gods", an event that is difficult to describe, and which has to be witnessed first hand to be believed, as the Gods vie for favor.
Here is my favorite picture of a God, being carried by the village men. These men are said to give up their individual will to the God, and supposedly have superhuman powers. I like this image in particular, because it gives a sense of the ancient quality of the occasion, specifically in the vintage quality of the b&w.
nugeny wrote:
Nice story, great picture. No way to understand faith! People need to feel safe, I guess!
These traditions predate Christianity. The villages in the mountains are fairly isolated. They each have a Gur or Shaman that communicates with the individual God, asking for protection and blessings. I'll post a picture of a priestly Gur in a trance soon!
charley5 wrote:
Thanks, Dan. And this story is fascinating from an anthropological point of view as well. There are places in the world which defy the imagination!
-Charles
I know Charles. I have been/served in a few!
Happy New Year!
Dan
