A Hindu devotee reacts in pain after having his cheeks pierced with a steel rod as part of a ritual during the 'Aadi' festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
In India and Britain, Hindu worshippers are taking part in rituals honoring the divine feminine. The observances come during Aadi, a holy month in the Tamil calendar associated with prayers, offerings and devotion to Hindu goddesses.
Hindu devotees with their back pierced with hooks pull the chariot of goddess during ‘Aadi’ festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)Hindu devotees carry milk pots during a procession to perform rituals for the ‘Aadi’ festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)Women take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)A Hindu devotee with hooks pierced through the skin on his body hangs miniature water pots as offerings during the ‘Aadi’ festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses. in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)Worshippers perform an act of sacrifice as they take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)Women take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)Hindu devotees with their back pierced with hooks spin during ‘Aadi’ festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)A worshipper takes part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)Worshippers perform an act of sacrifice as they take part in the Hindu Chariot Festival, a celebration to worship the Hindu god Amman, in London, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)Hindu devotees with hooks pierced through the skin on their backs take part in the Aadi festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)A Hindu devotee with his back pierced with hooks perform rituals during ‘Aadi’ festival, a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses, in Chennai, India, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
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