Human chandeliers – why do Indians hang themselves on hooks (5 photos + 1 video)

In Kerala, India, there's a unique and slightly eerie tradition (though no more terrifying than some Sith customs). It's called Garudan Thokkam.





Some hold Garudan's arrows and lances in their hands or teeth.

Every year in southern India, the Garudan Thokkam Festival, which literally means "Hanging of the Eagle," is celebrated colorfully. Garudan is a mythical figure considered the king of birds. That is, he is half man, half eagle, like a centaur, but a bird. The entire festival revolves around the main gods of the Hindu pantheon – Kali and Vishnu. Once, when Kali was suffering from thirst, Vishnu sent the bird god Gaudan (who was also another of Vishnu's mounts) to her so that his blood could quench Kali's thirst.



Here are three Gradudams hanging from a single truck.

And so, to appease Kali and allow her to quench her thirst, every year the locals pretend to be Gaudans. They also offer her their blood. And how do you become like a human eagle? By hanging yourself high on a hook, and to draw blood, the hook is pierced right through your skin. And they hang like eagles, several at a time, from an artificial tree.

A macabre or noble ritual?





First, they dance the bird dance; see the beaks on their masks?

Hooks are pierced through the skin so that it doesn't tear, allowing them to hang from the tree longer. First, everyone dresses up in a festive bird costume and dances. The star of the dance (who volunteered in advance) becomes the "eagle" at the end of the dance. Everyone carefully lifts him onto the tree-like crossbar. If there's blood, it's no big deal; the goddess Kali, on the contrary, only rejoices.



Here's a good tourist option: they're simply tied under the chest with ropes. Child's play!

In some villages in the region, a hanging tree is placed on a cart or carriage so that the floating Gaudan can be paraded around the area and shown to everyone who cares about Kali. So if you encounter one of these while traveling in India, stay calm; it happens every year. Some of these Gaudans even deliberately swing on their "swing" or ask for it to be rocked, imitating the flight of an eagle.



As you can see, they're rocking him while holding his hand.

How long do you think this ritual will last in India?