Wild flowers, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Clay figures of a threshing site, Buthpitiya, Sri Lanka.

On the road from Wathurugama to Gampaha, I saw these life-like clay figures of a threshing floor, in the centre of a paddy field.

Monkeys at a plant nursery, Meepe, Sri Lanka.

'Chedil Kaavady' (Fish-hook Kaavady), Avissawala, Sri Lanka.

In this type of 'Kaavady' fish hooks are inserted to the skin of the back and held together by a strong rope. The ;Kaavady' dancer carried a decorated 'Kaavady' - 'Kaavu+Thady' T - and danced his way on the streets preceding the 'Ther', in a 'Ther' festival.

Sights on the pavement during the 'Ther' festival, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Hot Ulundhu and Masaala vadai' for sale on the pavement.

Brass-ware for sale on the pavement.

'Angappradadshanai' - rolling on the ground following a 'Ther', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Another act of 'Nerthikkadan' T ('fulfilling a vow to the Diety'}. Here the 'Saiva' devotting is following the 'Ther' procession, rolling on the ground. Acts of self-inflicted torture are part of the tradition of almost all the great religions of the world. Vow of 'Silence', going hungry are the mildest of these acts.

'Thookku kaavadi', Avissawella Sri Lanka.

'Nerthikkadan' in Tamil means 'redeeming a promise made to a Diety'. A devotee would take a vow and promise to a Deity of his ('Ishta theivam') that he would do a certain act of penence if the Deity fulfills a wish made to the Deity. The act of penance can be a simple act like offering a 'poosai' at the temple of the Deity. It ranges from carrying a pot of milk on the head, carrying a decorated pot of milk on the head and dancing ('Karakam'), and carrying a 'Kaavadi' ('Kaavu, Thadhy' - carrying stick) It can take extreme forms like rolling on the ground following a 'Ther' called 'Angappradashanai'. One of the extreme forms is to get fish hooks piercing the skin of the back of the chest and being hung up on  a pole following a procession. This act is called a 'Thookku kaavadi' or 'Paravaikkaavadi'. I took the above two pictures at a 'Ther' festival at the 'Muthumari Amman' temple in Kudagama road, Avissawella.

Click on link below to see video:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoYWuqheOQY&feature=share&list=UU1dqepitfAJwrQWLD-gZ3NA