October 1993

Trance Parades Draw Thousands

By Rajesh Jantilal

The annual (July) Kavadi celebration in Durban, South Africa, spawned huge crowds. About 60 temples around Durban held processions in which devotees of Lord Muruga carry heavy shoulder arches and skewer their tongues, cheeks and torso with small spears and hooks. In a state of intense psychic surrender and penance, the kavadi bearers enter a transphysical trance, feeling no pain, slowly swaying and walking to drums and singing. The festival is joyous and knits the Hindus into a oneness. The annual (July) Kavadi celebration in Durban, South Africa, spawned huge crowds. About 60 temples around Durban held processions in which devotees of Lord Muruga carry heavy shoulder arches and skewer their tongues, cheeks and torso with small spears and hooks. In a state of intense psychic surrender and penance, the kavadi bearers enter a transphysical trance, feeling no pain, slowly swaying and walking to drums and singing. The festival is joyous and knits the Hindus into a oneness.