Hermit Dilemma

QUESTION:

Is it OK to lock oneself up in the room and be alone,

or is that escaping from reality?

Bangladesh Tribal Group Dance

This is a video I took of a tribal dance that we were able to witness in Bangladesh. We were invited to a cultural program when we were in Birishiri, in the northern part of Bangladesh, by the Director of the Birishiri Tribal Cultural Academy and some women from the Garo tribe performed.



The Garo people look like us Igorots in their facial features, which is different from the Indian race, and I was mercilessly teased as one by our Bangladeshi friends. But, surprisingly, no loincloths, gongs and sagni for them hehehehe... Their dance is very different, although I must say their woven attire looks familiar =)

Ashura Festival Drum-Playing

This is a video of Bihari Muslims in Bangladesh playing the drums for their Ashura Festival. This was quite a festive occassion with kids and young people running on the streets, shouting something which I, of course, could not understand, plus this festive and loud drum-playing.

According to an expert on Islam who was with us, in the Middle East countries that he lived in, the festival would be a time wherein Shiite Muslims would whip and cut themselves up until they bleed. We may have missed the opportunity of seeing this practice happen among the Bihari Muslims since we went there at night or there may not be too many people willing to do it. Too bad. It would have been a sight to behold!

It is interesting how it sounds much like the practice of Filipinos on Black Saturday, which is of a different setting and belief, but with the practice of hurting oneself physically. I was able to find more info about this festival and also of the Bihari Muslims in this blog.