Leapin" Lizard

 

Lizard Suit Guy at Green Music Festival, Wicker Park, Chicago, Ill, USA.

Picture by garyegarye

Hindu devotee

"Many devotees pray here during the week before the procession.

A trusted relative pierces tens (or hundreds?) of spikes into the devotee's body. Or a large skewer trough his mouth.
Nobody cringes. Nobody bleeds! I mean I didn't see anybody feeling pain at Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur.

The prayers done, friends and relatives start loading the kavadi frames onto the shoulders of devotees. They will go up the steps deep into the Batu caves, where the skewers and hooks will be taken out as the final part of the prayer ....

Thaipusam preparations are never quiet affairs. In the background, musicians pound drums and blow bugles.

This music gets the devotees into the right frame of mind, I am told."

Taken by Igor

P A R A D E.

"A parade during Holi in Vrindavan". India. Taken by Claude Renault

Battles

"In the May Cultural Festival, held in Guadalajara, there is a section called 'La Alternativa' in which there are bands from an invited country - this year the US". Taken by i35mmporvida

Vegetarian Gourmet Burgers

Glasgow, Scotland. Taken by Mazetta

Police Portrait

"Moments after the first wave of hooligan attack on Slavija square, during the Belgrade Pride parade 2010. The smell of teargas was already in the air....". Taken by Vladimir Krzalic

Samhain is Here

Some world-class pumpkin critters in Oxford town, UK. Happy Hallowe'en... Taken by a ghost

Święto Katalonii

"The Feast of Catalonia on the Main Market Square in Kraków". Poland. Taken by bazylek100

Free, Jaipur

"Elephant festival, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India". Taken by s i a m

Balloon and Wine

"Temecula Valley, California USA, Balloon and Wine Festival - June 5, 2010". Taken by jcjford

Elephant

Preparing the elephants, Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007 in Prayag (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India. Taken by s i a m

Follow the Lights for the Answer

"Lantern Festival- the launch...". Taken by Stuart

Venice Masquerade

"Carnavale is a time of exuberance, but the mask shops are open and bright all year round". Taken by Michael

Ghost Festival

This photo was taken in Luodong City, Taiwan. September the 10th marked the closing of Ghost Month, Lunar Month 7, when all of the spirits, freed from their otherworlds to enjoy incense, praise, and sacrifice, are wished a good journey back home. The offerings and festivities are used to not offend a potentially unwelcome guest; noone wants these 'good friends', as they call them, hanging around past their welcome. This shot is of some lanterns and lights at a Night Market Temple in Luodong on the first evening of Ghost Month. Taken by Dale

Time for a Refill

"Quechua women ("chollas") get drunk at the Pelechuco festival, Bolivia". Taken by Joe

Get Your Glad Rags On

"Elaborate and ornate costumes are plentiful for the New Orleans Mardi Gras. Three weeks of parades come to a close on Mardi Gras night, as the midnight marks the start of Lenten - the Catholic season of fasting and abstinence". Taken by Steve