pierced..., a photo from Kerala, South

Photographer's Note

The Sarkarra Festival near Kovallam. Attenedants display their devotion throuh ritual piercing... A very Keralan event.

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SampraS (619) 2006-05-12 7:55 [Comment]

lappino (858) 2006-05-12 8:02

Hi Caleb,
very vibrant colors, your picture is full of life. This is one very devoted young boy, judging from the size of this arrow...
Thanks for sharing
Vlad

siolaw (38294) 2006-05-12 8:05

Hello Caleb,
A fine capture of this festival of piercing!
Great colors and clarity, DOF good too and i like the 2 women in the BG
Well done
laurent

flydragon (0) 2006-05-12 8:06

oupsssss
hello caleb
what a strong picture
but hard devotion
its hurt me
well done a great one
••simon••

Eben (147) 2006-05-12 8:07

Exelent capture, vibrant colours, and a Big piercing. Eben

zou (223) 2006-05-12 8:14

lovely colors, strange when we see the boy expression, he don't lokk as bad feeling , strong face

§
Zou

Dari (24) 2006-05-12 8:15

Hi, Caleb. Interesting image....rich colours and life movement, boy looks very devoted to what he is doing, but to me, who is so far from this culture, is always a bit terrifying to see such images for the very first moment, but because of that not less but even more interesting. When you see somebodies traditional event it is always very special feeling, you wish to explore and not to look like rude and silly there, not to scare away special atmosphere. To see photo is good way, though never giving full emotions.....but this boys eyes can tell a lot. India festivals are something great Divali is beautiful...also i know Indians often using flour on there festivals, is it on boys face here?

arnabchat (7233) 2006-05-12 10:26

stunning! the colors are just too good to look at!
these shots of ritauls always carry an extra strong sense of expression. thanks for sharing.
Arnab

sonti_in (346) 2006-05-12 10:30 [Comment]

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ndb1958 (9289) 2006-05-12 10:46

Hi Caleb,
that's the first time that I see this ritual piercing on a young boy, on a child at least. Something very new.
I like his view to your camera. Interesting portrait. Colours are wonderful.
Nino

deano (178) 2006-05-12 11:03

Hi Caleb,

OUCH! Good shot with excellent colours, POV and detail. Well captured and TFS.
Dean.

AnimeshRay (9089) 2006-05-12 12:13

Now, don't tell me this is true!!!! Really??? THis must be agonizing!! Hope the child survived the infection later

Homerhomer (4080) 2006-05-12 14:13

this is a fantastic image Caleb, think it evokes emotions in most poeple who look at it, it sure does in me.
Such celebrations are quire foreign to me, and I can't help but wish that children would be left off such rituals.
Peter

bboss (3578) 2006-05-14 17:27

Powerful stuff, dramatic, the way his arms mirror his impalement, the women twins and the man in orange doing the crucifixion...

Like several others I agree that children should be left out of piercing rituals like this (this is india though), but I have also heard that (surprisingly) this doesn't actually hurt very much at all. Not so sure that I would want to try it though.

Great shot
Cheers, David