Our day in Munnar turned out to be a major festival. At midday, there was a procession of musicians and Kavadi-bearers. The Kavadi is like an altar, pulled by the bearer through the street via hooks in his or her skin. "The Kavadi contains rice, milk or other articles that the devotee has vowed to offer the Lord...Generally, people take a vow to offer a Kavadi for the sake of getting over a great calamity. Many of the Kavadi-bearers impose various forms of self-torture. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheek reminds him of the Lord constantly. It also prevents him from speaking. It gives him great power of endurance." (from Hindu Fasts and Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda)
