Floating in the Air, Followed By the Wind

Duration: 34

Year Published: 1973

Format: 16mm

Color: Color

Description: Documents the Hindu religious festival Thaipusam, which is celebrated each year near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Notes that, weeks before, devotees gather to prepare themselves spiritually and to construct the Kavadis, or highly decorated shoulder poles, which they will carry at the festival to fulfill their vows. Shows groups of worshippers who offer the sacrifice of piercing their bodies with long needles and hooks and are led by a guru skilled in inducing tranced states brought on by rhythmic music, dance, and expectation which prevents the worshippers from feeling pain. Describes the trance as a state of grace, very pleasurable, "like floating in the air followed by the wind."

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