Exorcist cures the ‘possessed’ of Colombia in bizarre ritual ceremony
With willing participants covered in dirt and surrounded by fire, it is not exactly a conventional religious or spiritual ceremony. But the bizarre scenes are part of a 20-year exorcism tradition led by the mysterious ‘Brother Hermes’, who claims the ritual rids people of evil spirits. The Colombian exorcisms see people dressed entirely in white [...]
Cup from the skull – the glamor of the Stone Age
A kapala (Sanskrit for “skull”) or skullcup is a cup made from a human skull used as a ritual implement (bowl) in both Hindu Tantra and Buddhist Tantra (Vajrayana). Especially in Tibet, they were often carved or elaborately mounted with precious metals and jewels. A skull cup is a drinking vessel made from an inverted [...]
Riding horses through the fire
Every year in San Bartolome de Pinares, west of Madrid, during the celebration of the patron saint of animals of St. Anthony Abeda, professional Spanish riders jump through flaming fires, defying death itself. Before the sparks horse blessed the priest and the ritual has been going on for 500 years. St. Anthony Abed Egyptian origin [...]
Star Wars Artwork
Star Wars in the Mexican tradition – Jose Pulido submitted would look like the heroes of the cult franchise, being drawn in the style of the Day of the Dead. Only its author is not limited to flickr You can find Elvis and the characters “Pulp Fiction ” and the Statue of Liberty
Weird Mexican holiday “Day of the Dead”
Mexicans – people are special. Who else but the ancestor of the Maya, will come to mind memories of the dead turned into a feast, and even in the most popular holiday in the country? In the “Day of the Dead” on the Mexican cemeteries drink, dance and fun, so is it any wonder carnival [...]
Torture chamber in Peter and Paul Fortress
The fortress was established by Peter the Great on May 16. 1703. on small Hare Island by the north bank of the Neva River, the last upstream island of the Neva delta. Built at the height of the Northern War in order to protect the projected capital from a feared Swedish counterattack, the fort never [...]
World’s Unusual Grave
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes. The word is used in a broad sense to encompass a number of such types of places of interment or, occasionally, burial. Kasubi Tombs The Kasubi Tombs in Kampala, Uganda, [...]
Keep the tradition alive…
It is really weird for onlookers: decrepit old women with wild whooping shred a doll. The doll’s clothes flocks and last year’s straw are flying right and left and soon this all will be over. The old women will go back home with a daubed head of the doll. According to an old popular belief [...]
Unearthed, the 2,000-year-old skeletons of 80 gladiators slaughtered for the crowds in Roman Britain
Slaughtered in the arena by tigers, or killed by a hammer blow from a fellow fighter, they died to entertain bloodthirsty crowds. Such a savage spectacle is mostly associated with ancient Rome, but historians believe they have uncovered an entire cemetery of gladiators in the North of England. The 2,000-year-old remains of almost 80 young [...]
Hindu Rituals and Practices
The religious life of many Hindus is focused on devotion to God (perceived as Brahman, Shiva, Vishnu, or Shakti) or several gods. This devotion usually takes the form of rituals associated with sculptures and images of gods in home shrines. More philosophically-minded Hindus ignore the gods altogether and seek Realization of the Self through intense [...]