- Title: India: Annual Charak Festival
- Date: 14th April 1998
- Summary: People of India's eastern city of Calcutta have participated in an annual Charak (penance) festival in which some men swing from a height of 30 feet or more to please the Hindu god of destruction, Shiva. A two-day annual festival was held in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta on the eve of Bengali new year on April 14 when devotees performed Charak or penance, swinging from a height of more than 30 feet. "We have to necessarily perform the act of swinging in order to please our Lord Shiva, on whose name we renounce worldly pleasure", said Bhim Manik, a devotee. Those who perform the penance feat are called "Sanyasis". They drop sweets and fruits for those below. The belief is that if childless people catch the sweets or fruit they will be blessed with children. One main attraction of the festival is the fair at which traders sell toys and idols made of wood, mud and china clay, as well as useful household goods. WARNING:LOCAL MUSIC LICENCES MAY APPLY. Copyright laws covering the composition, arrangement and/or performance of music differ from country to country, and even from state to state within some countries. These range from limiting the law to specific circumstances - e. g. 'performances given by professionals to a paying audience' - to total coverage that encompasses everything from a professional performance to the most amateur rendition - e. g. 'spectators at sports events'. If in doubt we recommend that either the section containing 'Music' is deleted or that the sound level is turned down and covered with commentary.
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- Location: INDIA WEST BENGAL CALCUTTA
- Reuters ID: LDL00128P97QN
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
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- Copyright Holder: Reuters Archive
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