In Bengal, a festival that pays homage to Tamil war god

A visual from the 'Vel Festival’ held in Bandel in West Bengal’s Hooghly district. This festival is celebrated here by those with Tamil origins every year before Chaitra Sankranti (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Observed in the first week of April every year, Vel celebrates the spirit of austerity and heroism. The word ‘vel’ means spear, which is a weapon of the Tamil war god Murugan. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

In Bandel, the festival is held at the premises of the Olai Chandi Temple. It is held here after the annual Shitala Puja every year (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Devotees at the Vel festival in Bandel (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

During the festival, devotees bathe in a pond, after which their cheeks, tongues or foreheads are pierced by a whip or a spear. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)

People pour water at the feet of those who get the piercings, while others seek their blessings as they walk towards the temple (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)