# Devotees pierce flesh in festivals to goddesses in India and Britain 2026-08-09T19:50:10+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Hindu devotees marked the Aadi festival on Sunday, 9 August 2026, in Chennai and London, with rituals involving piercing the skin with hooks, rods and miniature water pots as offerings to goddesses. Photographs by Associated Press show devotees in Chennai with steel rods through cheeks, hooks in the back pulling chariots, and milk pot processions. In London, worshippers took part in the Hindu Chariot Festival honouring the god Amman, performing acts of sacrifice. The Aadi festival is a holy month for Tamils observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddesses. The London event also celebrated the goddess Amman. The rituals reflect deep devotion, with some devotees spinning with hooks still in place. ## Coverage - ca.news.yahoo.com Tags: Aadi festival, Chennai, Hindu rituals, London, religious practices Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/devotees-pierce-flesh-in-festivals-to-goddesses-in-india-and-britain/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/devotees-pierce-flesh-in-festivals-to-goddesses-in-india-and-britain/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.