Tongue Piercing | National Geographic

new years in Nepal a time for
celebration and for piety Hinduism is
the main religion here and at this time
of year the devout fill the streets
where they ask for good fortune in the
new year and the men endure elaborate
tests of strength and endurance but the
village of bow day demonstrates its
religious devotion unlike any other
there just one man will stand before the
gods and undergo a painful trial his
name is Krishna Chandra and with
thousands watching he will allow a spike
to be born into his tongue if his tongue
does not bleed it is believed that gods
will grant his village prosperity in the
year ahead
in Nepal the new year starts in April
when fields have just been planted and
people are praying for a good harvest in
BO day that prayer comes in the form of
a sacrifice according to legend the
village of bow day began it’s unusual
ceremony four centuries ago to mark the
end of a very dark time a forest demon
had been terrorizing the town when the
villagers finally caught him they
paraded him through the streets his
tongue silenced by a metal spike ever
since bow day has celebrated the new
year by reenacting the demons fall its
tongue piercing day krishna has not
eaten in three days part of the
preparation for his ordeal on his way to
the ceremony
Krishna stops to pray at every shrine
and temple everywhere the gods have
visited in the square the crowd begins
to buzz with anticipation as boh days
mayor takes the stage once on the
platform Krishna is greeted as if he
himself were divine the blade has not
been sterilized there’s no anaesthetic
the priest
Babu Kashi just dabs Krishna’s tongue
with oil to lubricated
his tongue does not bleed for the 11th
year in a row krishna has passed the
most crucial test
but his ordeal has only just begun now
he must carry a heavy bamboo icon a
symbol of the god Shiva through bow days
cobbled streets Krishna ends his walk at
the town’s main temple just as he
crosses the threshold
Babu Kazi removes the spike from his
tongue as a lasting testament to
Krishna’s and the town’s piety the spike
is nailed to the temple wall Krishna is
free to head home the break is fast and
for the priests bubble kanji and the
rest of the villagers this painful
ritual has once again served its purpose