15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Holy Whirl

Whirling of disciples ("Sannyasi") of Lord Shiva being hooked from a scale like structure named "Charak Tree" is an interesting and final event of "Gajan" festival in rural Bengal, India. Crowd witness the event to earn piety from the Lord. Sometimes new born babies are being handed over to those whirling "Sannyasi" s in order to accomplish a vow. This annual "Gajan Festival" has a series of hardships like long fasting, piercing needle to bodies and tongue, jumping to fire etc. that are being observed for two to three days and this is usually becomes the final event of religious rituals.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2017
Photo Location: India
Camera: NIKON D750
Copyright: © Somanjan Ponda