Pakistani pilgrims seek good luck from crocodiles

[DesiGuy]

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- To the average person, holding a child over the jaws of a hungry crocodile does not seem like a smart idea.

But a small community in southern Pakistan believes it can bring good luck.

Once a year, members of the Sheedi community come dangerously close to giant crocodiles in a festival that leaves both spectators and reptiles with their mouths wide open.

Sheedis believe the crocodiles in the pond in Manghopir -- near Karachi -- are sacred.

Legend has it a saint left his lice there 700 years ago, and they grew into crocodiles that make miracles come true.

"All the wishes and prayers of people who come here are granted by God," said Ghulam Akbar, the caretaker of the shrine near the pond.

But the crocodiles can't work on empty stomachs; thousands came to this week's four-day festival with offerings of goat meat and candy.

Caretakers say no one has ever been hurt at the event, and everyone leaves with new-found joy.

At least one baby boy didn't seem very joyful. He cried as a man held him over a crocodile's snapping jaws.

Onlookers snapped cell-phone photos. Drums thumped. People danced and cheered.

Like most Sufi Muslims, Sheedis worship to rhythmic beats to achieve a state of trance and become closer to God.


Pakistani pilgrims seek good luck from crocodiles - CNN.com

 

[RescueRanger]

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- To the average person, holding a child over the jaws of a hungry crocodile does not seem like a smart idea.

But a small community in southern Pakistan believes it can bring good luck.

Once a year, members of the Sheedi community come dangerously close to giant crocodiles in a festival that leaves both spectators and reptiles with their mouths wide open.

Sheedis believe the crocodiles in the pond in Manghopir -- near Karachi -- are sacred.

Legend has it a saint left his lice there 700 years ago, and they grew into crocodiles that make miracles come true.

"All the wishes and prayers of people who come here are granted by God," said Ghulam Akbar, the caretaker of the shrine near the pond.

But the crocodiles can't work on empty stomachs; thousands came to this week's four-day festival with offerings of goat meat and candy.

Caretakers say no one has ever been hurt at the event, and everyone leaves with new-found joy.

At least one baby boy didn't seem very joyful. He cried as a man held him over a crocodile's snapping jaws.

Onlookers snapped cell-phone photos. Drums thumped. People danced and cheered.

Like most Sufi Muslims, Sheedis worship to rhythmic beats to achieve a state of trance and become closer to God.


Pakistani pilgrims seek good luck from crocodiles - CNN.com

The Sheedi, also known as a Habshi, Makrani, and Siddi are african people moors living in Pakistan, they have their own unique language, culture and tradtions from their ancient Bantu history.

The have a huge mela which takes place around the time of urs of Mangoo Pir...

 

[Frankenstein]

So the guy was right, the crocodile didn't ate the boy even with its empty stomach

 

[shuakataftab]

The Sheedi, also known as a Habshi, Makrani, and Siddi are african people moors living in Pakistan, they have their own unique language, culture and tradtions from their ancient Bantu history.

The have a huge mela which takes place around the time of urs of Mangoo Pir...

They speak swahili

 

[Capt.Popeye]

The Sheedi, also known as a Habshi, Makrani, and Siddi are african people moors living in Pakistan, they have their own unique language, culture and tradtions from their ancient Bantu history.

The have a huge mela which takes place around the time of urs of Mangoo Pir...

YouTube - sheedi

There are small pockets of Siddi settlements on the Indian west coast as well, notably around Junagadh in Gujarat and Ratnagiri and Janjira in Maharashtra They are considered to be descended from people in Zanzibar in Eastern Africa who were sailors and came to India/Pakistan on dhows (sailing craft) to trade. Their present language is a mix of Swahili with local dialects. BTW, Swahili is itself an amalgam of Arabic and East African dialects. IMO they are not of Bantu origin since Bantu defines ethnicity of Southern Africa. These people are of East African stock which has a fair intermingling of Arabic and N.E. African (i.e. Somali and Ethiopian) blood as well. Its interesting how trade routes led to migration in this part of the world. This racial stock can be found as far as Indonesia; and for the same reasons!

 

[RescueRanger]

There are small pockets of Siddi settlements on the Indian west coast as well, notably around Junagadh in Gujarat and Ratnagiri and Janjira in Maharashtra They are considered to be descended from people in Zanzibar in Eastern Africa who were sailors and came to India/Pakistan on dhows (sailing craft) to trade. Their present language is a mix of Swahili with local dialects. BTW, Swahili is itself an amalgam of Arabic and East African dialects. IMO they are not of Bantu origin since Bantu defines ethnicity of Southern Africa. These people are of East African stock which has a fair intermingling of Arabic and N.E. African (i.e. Somali and Ethiopian) blood as well. Its interesting how trade routes led to migration in this part of the world. This racial stock can be found as far as Indonesia; and for the same reasons!

Nice to know, thank you for correcting me on the language part. I had read in the old guide to the area they had links to the bantu region, oh well! Cheers!

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Nice to know, thank you for correcting me on the language part. I had read in the old guide to the area they had links to the bantu region, oh well! Cheers!

You brought up many relevant facts in the first place.
i just got a chance to add my two bits.