Hindu believers celebrating the festival of Thaipusam [Thaipusam, Festival Ekstrim kaum Hindu]


More than a million Hindu believers gathered in the Malaysian temple-cave to celebrate the colorful Hindu festival of Thaipusam. During this festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. On the day of the festival, devotees shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common.

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The unusual tradition in Ukraine


Known as an ancient tradition, in central-European countries like Poland and the Czech Republic, Wet Monday appears to be very popular in Ukraine, as well. It takes place on the second day of Easter

Wet Monday started out, in Poland,as a pagan custom that symbolize cleansing, with the coming of Spring. When Christianity became the main religion, Wet Monday was adopted as a Christian ritual, related to cleansing souls of sins. The truth is people loved this tradition so much, they found a way to keep it, by associating it with religion.

The photos below were taken on Wet Monday, in the Ukrainian city of Lviv. They are copyright of Yurko Dyachyshyn.

On Wet Monday. boys and men armed with bottles and buckets of water, chase after girls and splash them from head to toe. According to the original custom, the most beautiful girl in a village would be the wettest, but nowadays, boys just splash any girl they see. At one point, the tradition got so out of hand that boys threw buckets of water, at girls, threw their car windows.

With the current water shortage the world is facing right now, some would say this is a terrible waste, but the boys with water bottles wouldn’t dream of abandoning this ancient tradition. just look at those happy faces.

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10 Festival “tak biasa” dari seluruh Dunia [10 World’s unusual Festival]


1. Holi – the festival of colors in India.

It is normally celebrated in early March, to herald the beginning of spring. There are many stories which explain the origins of this festival, but the main aspect of the festival is playing with colours. People wear their oldest clothes and gather together to throw colour on each other. There is a great deal of merriment and laughter and it is believed to be an occasion when old enmities are forgotten and a spirit of brotherhood prevails all around.

Pestival ini biasanya dirayakan pada awal Maret, untuk menyambut awal musim semi. Ada banyak cerita yang menjelaskan asal-usul festival ini, namun aspek utama dari festival ini adalah bermain dengan warna. Orang-orang memakai pakaian tertua dan berkumpul bersama untuk melemparkan warna satu sama lain. Ada banyak kegembiraan dan tawa dan diyakini akan membuat permusuhan jadi terlupakan dan semangat persaudaraan menguat

2. Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi, Thailand

This festival has brought this small region in Thailand on the tourist circuit. In honour of the Hindu monkey God – Hanuman, the residents spread out a feast for the monkeys which live in their area. Over 600 monkeys descend to devour the vast array of fruits and vegetables, and what follows can only be termed as complete mayhem.

Festival ini telah membawa daerah terpencil di Thailand ini menjadi tujuan wisata. Untuk menghormati Dewa Hindu – Hanuman, penduduk membuat pesta untuk monyet-monyet yang hidup di daerah mereka. Lebih dari 600 monyet turun dan melahap serangkaian luas buah-buahan dan sayuran, dan biasanya saat para monyet berdatangan, terjadi kekacauan.

3. Hadaka Masturi at Inazawa in Japan:

Popularly known as the Naked Men festival, this is normally held in the cold month of January. Thousands of men clad only in loincloths and sandals wash themselves in freezing cold waters, in the hope of purifying themselves. The festival is a fun occasion, and holds significant spiritual undertones.

Dikenal sebagai festival Pria Telanjang, ini biasanya diadakan di bulan Januari. Ribuan pria hanya berpakaian cawat dan sandal, mencuci diri di perairan dingin, dengan harapan memurnikan diri mereka sendiri. Festival ini kesempatan menyenangkan, dan mengandung makna spiritual signifikan.

4. La Tomatina – at Valencia in Spain:


38 kms outside Valencia in a small town known as Bunol, an annual tomato festival is celebrated and is the delight of young and old alike. Can you think of anything which can be more fun than throwing overripe tomatoes in a crowded street? Complete with water cannons and greasy poles, a great time is had by all those taking part.

38 km luar Valencia di sebuah kota kecil yang dikenal sebagai Buñol, festival tomat tahunan dirayakan dan menarik perhatian orang2 baik yang muda maupun tua. Dapatkah Anda memikirkan apa-apa yang bisa menyenangkan lebih dari melemparkan tomat masak di jalan yang ramai? Lengkap dengan meriam air dan tiang berminyak, waktu yang tepat yang dimiliki oleh semua mereka yang hadir.

5. Cheese Rolling Festival – Cooper’s Hill in England:

At noon on the Spring Bank Holiday Monday, a round of double Gloucester cheese is rolled down the hill at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucester. The fun begins when people try to chase the cheese and as is to be expected – stumble and fall. The terrain is uneven and the competition tough. Due to many injuries and huge crowds, the festival has not been held this year, but the residents hope to revive it sometime soon.

Pada tengah hari Spring Bank Holiday Monday , keju bulat Gloucester ganda berguling menuruni bukit di Cooper’s Hill di Gloucester. kemudian diikuti oleh orang-orang yang mencoba untuk mengejar keju dan seperti yang diharapkan – tersandung dan jatuh. tanah yang tidak merata dan kompetisi keras. Karena banyak korban luka, festival tersebut belum dilaksanakan tahun ini, namun warga berharap dapat menghidupkan kembali itu dalam waktu dekat.

6. Baby Jumping Festival – Castrillo De Murcia in Spain

This festival has been prevalent in this village in Spain, where babies are laid down on a mattress and men dressed in devil’s costumes are made to jump over the babies. The locals believe that this will ensure good luck and good health for the babies.

Festival ini telah diselenggarakan di desa di Spanyol, di mana bayi berbaring di atas kasur dan pria mengenakan kostum setan dibuat untuk melompati bayi. Penduduk setempat percaya bahwa ini akan menjamin keberuntungan dan kesehatan yang baik untuk bayi.

7. Crying Baby Festival – Konaki Suma in Japan:

At Konaki Sumo sumo wrestlers hold babies in their arms facing each other. The baby who begins to cry first is considered to be truly blessed and specially honoured.

Pada Konaki Sumo, pegulat sumo memegang bayi di lengan mereka saling berhadapan. Bayi yang mulai menangis pertama dianggap benar-benar diberkati dan khusus dihormati.

8. Boryeong Mud Festival – at Boryeong City in South Korea:

Mud wrestling, mud sliding, mud bathing, and above all a mud king contest are all part of this unusual festival in South Korea. The festival goers apply the mud all over themselves since they believe that the mud of this region has curative powers.

gulat Lumpur, lumpur meluncur, mandi lumpur, semua kontes ini adalah untuk mencari seorang raja lumpur Festival ini diselenggarakan di Korea Selatan. Penonton festival menggunakan lumpur di seluruh diri mereka sendiri karena mereka percaya bahwa lumpur daerah ini memiliki kekuatan kuratif.

9. Kannamara Masturi Festival in Kawasaki Japan:

This annual fertility festival sees the display of the male genitalia in various shapes and sizes and parades where it is venerated and displayed. Nowhere else in the world is there a festival which celebrates the male genitalia in such a freewheeling

Festival tahunan kesuburan melihat tampilan alat kelamin laki-laki dalam berbagai bentuk dan ukuran dan parade mana dihormati dan ditampilkan. Hanya ada di Jepang.

10. Las Fallas – Valencia Fire Festival:

A festival of fire and fireworks, on this day you can see fireworks and a lot of smoke and a cacophony of sound. Combustible statues in all hues and forms are built and destroyed amidst merriment and noise.

Sebuah festival api dan kembang api, pada hari ini anda bisa melihat kembang api dan banyak asap dan hiruk-pikuk suara. patung mudah terbakar dalam semua warna dan bentuk yang dibangun dan dihancurkan di tengah-tengah kegembiraan dan kebisingan.