Week 3 (19.10 - 25.10) Surprising contemporary rituals

The twenty first century is not only about superfast jets, flights to Mars and video calls. This is also the age when old traditions and religious rituals are supported and nurtured  . Unfortunately, the purpose of some of these rituals is  hard to understand.

Female genital mutilation

The practice, traditional in some cultures, of partially or totally removing the external genitalia of girls and young women for nonmedical reasons. Formerly procedure was carried out using traditional and dangerous tools, like a sharpened shell, a stone or a buffalo horn. Today, thanks to “modern technology”, the person performing the procedure has access to modern tools such as a razor, a  knife or  wallpaper. It is illegal in many countries.

source: http://www.joemonster.org/i/f/obrzez.jpg

Bloodletting – Ashura

One of the few Shiite festivities celebrated around the world. The ritual commemorates the death of the grandson of Muhammad - Hussein at the Battle of Karbala in the 7th century AD. Shiites mourn the fact that they were not present at the fight and did not help to save Hussein and his family. Participation in Ashura is the forgiveness of sins. A popular Shi'a saying has it that, "a single tear shed for Hussein washes away a hundred sins.” – 

source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Ashura"

source: http://vader.joemonster.org/upload/qfu/1071294af4c85ff2.jpg

Eskimo Death

One of the oldest traditional Eskimo practices is leaving the elderly to a better world using the traditional method.  When the grandfather or grandmother are already at an age when they cannot take care of themselves - their children  put them on a boat and sail all together into a drifting iceberg. There follows farewell, after which the children return home, leaving the old man to meet  with the Creator.

Although prohibited by the authorities - the practice is still common among modern Eskimos.

source: http://vader.joemonster.org/upload/qfu/1071295ea0c4b463.jpg

Cannibalism

In northern India, there is a branch of Hinduism practicing cannibalism. As food they use corpses found in the Ganges and the bodies of deceased loved ones. Followers drink  Agori with human skulls and eat human flesh. They feel that it gives them spiritual and physical benefits.

source: http://vader.joemonster.org/upload/qfu/107129653d2a1524.jpg

Animal sacrifice

The ritual slaughter of animals is found in many cultures.

For example, in Hinduism the animal is strangled and then stabbed. According to beliefs, very bad omen is when the animal makes noise - such an animal can be transformed into a demon and the demon after death does different things to the people that killed the animal.

source: http://vader.joemonster.org/upload/qfu/1071299a0a132417.jpg