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Visiting GIs Shudder at Gruesome Hindu Festival
(This story was originally published in the May 17, 1945 issue of Hump Express, newspaper of the India-China Division of the Air Transport Command, U.S. Army Air Forces.)
1347th Base Unit, Shamshernagar, India - When the Hindus celebrate Charakpuja (New Year's Eve) they delve into "a world in a mood for creation, with the old year expiring and a new one rising out of its destruction."
To observe these festivities a dozen enlisted men and officers of this ICD base traveled to a secluded village on invitation of an English teaplanter and chief babu (headman) of the natives. They witnessed scenes of unbelievable self-imposed torture, ate at the table of the chieftain and were present at the ceremonies.
After a dance during which the participants jumped on the sharp blades of bolo knives, they were led to a nearby stream for the "bath of purification."
Leaving the stream, they walked back to a sacred temple, with large steel needles stuck through their tongues. After the needles, two feet long, were thrust through the tongues, a large China rose was attached to one of the protruding points. This part of the ceremonies signified that all verbal sins of the devotees during the past year were forgiven.
Startling phase of the performance was the "Pashban" or self-inflicted torture in atonement for past sins of the body. Tridents with needle-sharp points were thrust through the sides of the devotees, among whom were two children. The tridents were removed from the need after they had circled the temple of the goddess seven times.
Perhaps the most striking part of the ceremony was the performance at the "May-pole," a weird looking structure which included a tall bamboo pole, a circular platform at the base which moved freely at the touch of a few hands, an four lengths of stout hemp cord dangling from four separate prongs at the top of the pole.
A priest inserted gaffs (which resembled large meat hooks) into the backs of four of the devotees. To do this he pinched a broad section of flesh from the upper waist of each of the participants and thrust the razor-sharp bit through. The four (three men and a small boy) were led to the platform under the pole, suspended to the ends of the long cords and were soon squirming and whirling through the air.
This May-pole and its ceremony symbolized the abject impotence of mankind before the power of the deities. It brought the party to a climatic close.
Sidney L. Major photograph shared by Gillian Chapman Presented by Carl W. Weidenburner Copyright © 2025