Traditions are an integral part of a culture and many different cultures have their own traditions- some are cute, some progressive and some downright hilarious and bizarre.
Here are a list of such bizarre cultures from different countries.
1.Africa : Gerewol Festival
In the Wodaabe tribe, it’s the men who have to be all prim and proper. The courtship festival known as Gerewol is where men dress up in all their finery and appear in front of the women to show them what they’ve got.
2.Amazon (Satere-Mawe Tribe) : Bullet Ant Gloves
When boys of this Amazonian tribe come of age, they are required to prove their manhood in a terrifying tradition where the trapped bullet ants are first drugged and then placed in woven mitts. The young men then have to wear the mitts on their hands and dance for ten minutes to take their mind of the pain. Satere-Mawe men have to go through this ritual at least 20 times in their lifetime.
3.Amazon (Yanomami Tribe)
The Yanomami tribe of the Amazon rainforest do not bury the dead. They believe the no physical trace of the body should be left in order to allow the spirit to rest in peace. The ash and bone powder obtained after cremation is mixed into a plantain soup which is consumed by the deceased’s family. By doing this, the tribe believe the soul of their lost and loved one will reside within them.
4.Bhutan: Night Hunting
Known as Bomena; In this part of the Himalayan kingdom, young men looking for love and marriage set out at night for a “hunt”. They break into the rooms of young girls and spend the night there. If caught, they will either have to marry the girl, or work in her father’s fields as a punishment. This tradition is much debated today as women are subjected to rape and an invasion of privacy.
5.India : Toddler Tossing
In some parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka, toddlers are tossed from the roof of temples 15-30 feet above the ground and are caught by a blanket held out by devotees. This practice is age old and is said to bring good luck to the child. It is a traumatic ordeal for the toddler and child rights activists managed to ban it in 2011. However, devotees continued to practise it in 2012.
6.Indonesia: Bathroom Ban
Newly married couples of Tidong community in Indonesia cannot answer their nature calls for about 3 days after their wedding as it is said to bring bad luck like death and still birth.
7.Japan: Penis Festival
Known as the Kanamara Matsuri, devotees carry a large sculpture of a penis and parade through the streets of Kawasaki in Japan. It is said that a demoness with vaginal teeth seduced men to their deaths until temple priests used a metal penis to destroy her deadly secret weapon. Several sex workers take part in this festival to pray for good health and protection against STDs.
8.South India: Thaipusam
Celebrated by Hindus of Southern India, the festival of Thaipusam observes the victory of Lord Murugan over an evil spirit. Devotees pierce themselves with sharp objects across parts of their body while going into a complete trance.
By: Archa Dave
