I don't want to bug in like this and OT but this is not "just" an event. It is a religious practice that have been around longer for a couple thousand years.
This was not dream up to encourage tourist, get profit or to recruit new religious members like some other religion. Look beyond your "set" value of what your society has deem right,wrong, good, evil, gore..etc and look beyond all that gruelling act of piercing and you will find it is about each individuals ways of repaying back for what wrong they did (payihg penace) and for others, it's their way of holding up to a promise or gratitute to performance this traditional ritual of carrying a karvadi to thank their hindu gods for granting a special wish they have prayed for. And it's not always about granting a wish for themselves or money. It could be as simple as praying for a child to pass their exam, for the longevity of their parents or to save life of someone going into surgery..etc.
What makes you sick, heals these individual spiritually and reaffirm their belive and faith in their hindu gods...in their own traditional way. Once it is over, you don't see them being scarred for life or have real scars to bear out their act. YOu don't see them screaming in pain as they are pierced or as they performace their walk to the temple at Tank Road. It is about their faith in their religious belief. I am sorry it makes your stomach churn from watching this but maybe you could give some thought into their historical pratices and help you better stomach it. What can seem extreme to you is a way of life for another. I had indian friends who went through this and I have go in support along side them as they took their walk. I have got a deeper understanding and respect for them when I took the time to learn more about it and understand why they do this. Just hope you can understand that lah...this is not a flame to you..want you to understand things abit better if you are not aware of it.
