Hinduism in Germany: Hindu Tamil Festivals and Public Processions

Public processions are a vital aspect of the large-scale temple festivals celebrated annually to honour a temple's presiding deity. (Hamm-Uentrop, temple festival of Sri Kamakshi Devi, June 2004)

A movable image of this deity is mounted on a processional cart, called ter, which is pulled or pushed by male and female devotees. (Hamm city, temple festival of Sri Sithivinayakar, August 2002)

The processional cart of the Sri Sithivinayakar temple in Hamm, which owns a spacious backyard hall in a busy and densely populated part near the main station. Being the temporal abode of the God Ganesha great care is taken to turn it into an appropriate and impressive vehicle. The temple-like structure is typical of South Asian temple carts. Note the pile of coconuts to be given as offerings.(August 2004)

In the German capital of Berlin, male devotees of Sri Murukan smash coconuts in honor of the god just before the start of the procession through the neighbouring streets of Kreuzberg. His movable image had been brought out of the temple housed in the basement of the building to the left and placed on his chariot. His main priest shares his cart to be able to constantly worship him.(Temple festival, August 2003)

This profusely decorated image of Lord Murukan, imported from Sri Lanka, is made of six metals and represents the deity in his form as six-faced god (three faces are visible). He carries a lance (vel) and a banner displaying a cock, both of which are his special insignia. He is accompanied by his two wives positioned to his right and left. (Berlin, August 2003)

The processional image of Goddess Muthumariamman is carefully dressed and decorated inside her temple in a suburban part of Hanover by the officiating priest Sri Kumar. Then, the image is taken out into the courtyard and shown to the crowd eagerly waiting to view this auspicious sight (darshan) of the deity. (Temple festival, August 2000)

Goddess Muthumariamman leaving the Hanover temple compound. These buildings originally belonged to a small factory. The cart of the goddess is preceded by devotees carrying insignia and a banner giving the name of the temple in Tamil and German. (August 2000)

The processional cart with the goddess of the Hanover temple has been pulled to the main street. Since tram and trucks must wait until the procession turns off into the next side street, official permission for this public ceremonial circumambulation of the temple is given only for Sunday afternoons, a time when there is usually less traffic. (August 2004)

Sometimes one or two images of other gods are taken out in addition to the main deity of the temple. They are carried on the shoulders of eager devotees who have invariably donned traditional dress, and who take turns carrying the images. A splendid processional umbrella underlines the high status of the represented deity. (Hamm 2004)

During the yearly festival of the Gummersbach temple three deities in three different carts are taken out in procession. As this town is situated in a mountainous region private cars are used to help pull the carts uphill. (August 2003)

Children tired of walking enjoy the ride on one of the carts of the Gummersbach procession. The chosen route is quite long and the whole tour lasts more than three hours. (August 2003)

Although the Gummersbach procession takes place on quiet Sunday afternoons, many local people show a keen interest in the religious activities of their Tamil fellow citizens. (August 2003).

Musicians with traditional South Asian instruments walking in front of the processional carts announcing the coming of the deity. They also provide the rhythm and sound for the so-called kavati dancers. Such musician are a common feature of all Hindu Tamil processions. (Berlin 2003).

These men have vowed to accompany the procession dancing along with a wooden structure (kavati) on their shoulders the entire way. The kavatis are embellished with flowers and peacock feathers. The latter are in honour of God Murukan whose mount is said to be the peacock. (Gummersbach 2003)

This kavati dancer had made a special additional vow to have his face pierced. The small lance pushed through the corners of his mouth has the shape of God Murukan's main weapon. Kavati bearers with or without pierced body parts are a common sight in many Sri Lankan and South Indian Murukan shrines. (Berlin 2003)

A father with his young son ready to join the procession with a small kavati. Parents desiring a son often vow to have them carry a kavati as soon as they are able to do so. Both father and son are dressed in a sarong, called vestti, the appropriate male garment for religious occasions. They walk barefoot, as befits a Hindu devotee in the presence of his gods.

Great significance is attached to the presence of children in the religious performances of Hindu Tamils in Germany. It is often said that it is mainly because of them that the traditional beliefs and practises are continued in the diaspora setting. Here a father and his children visit the shrine of God Murukan in Gummersbach before joining the procession.

These men have vowed to do the complete route rolling on the ground behind the cart. This strenuous form of self-castigation was practised for the first time during the temple festival of the goddess Kamakshi in Hamm in the early 1990s. Rolling men can be found participating in processions in a number of places, but the Kamakshi temple, now situated in the industrial area of Hamm, still attracts most of them. (Hamm-Uentrop, June 2002)

Men roll along behind the palanquins filled with deities who accompany God Ganesha on his cart through the city of Hamm. While the Kamakshi temple is located on the outskirts of the town, this procession passes through a densely inhabited area of Hamm filled with pubs and shops. (Annual festival of the Sri Sithivinayakar temple in Hamm)

Women are never seen performing "body rolling" in Germany. Instead they may kneel down after two three steps, touch the ground with their forehead, get up and repeat the procedure after the next three steps. They are surrounded by a group of women singing devotional songs. The Sri Murukan temple in Hamm appears in the background. (August 2004).

Carrying pots with burning camphor on one's head is another practise exclusively done by women. Helpers with a supply of camphor (note second woman from the left) pay attention that the fire keeps burning all the time. Note the festive garments and jewellery of the participants. (Gummersbach, August 2003)

"Hook swinging" is a rare sight in Tamil temple festivals in Germany. This man was the first to perform this harsh practise during Goddess Kamakshi's festival in Hamm Uentrop in 2003. Fixed to hooks and ropes he is suspended from a special wooden structure mounted on a vehicle. The procession passes the buildings belonging to the industrial area where the temple is situated.

After having been pulled in a wide circle around the temple by devotees, the huge processional cart of the Goddess Kamakshi finally returns to its starting point. People push towards it to present their offerings and receive blessed food and ashes from the priests. (June 1999)

The newly built Sri Kamakshi temple inaugurated in 2002 is said to be the biggest Hindu temple in continental Europe. The elaborate towers in South Asian style were built and decorated by South Indian master craftsmen. On this occasion of the main goddess Kamakshi being taking out for a ceremonial bath, non-Hindu visitors are also present. (Hamm-Uentrop, June 2004)

The Goddess Kamakshi's temple festival normally attracts between 12,000 and 15,000 people. On the morning following the main day of worship, a group of close devotees take the processional image of the goddess to the nearby canal. Here, underneath a bridge, a trident representing the goddess is given an elaborate ceremonial bath. Then, the priests and other men who so desire take a bath in the canal too. This is considered a joyful and beneficial event near the end of the annual festival. (Hamm-Uentrop, June 2004)