Tag: Maps and Views

Celebrating Spirituality 365 Days A Year – Gujeswari Jatra

Celtic Comments & Graphics

November 26 and 27

Gujeswari Jatra, Senegal Initiation Rites

On this date the Goddess Gujeswari Jatra is honored by the Hindus and Buddhists of Nepal. Activities fill the day beginning with prayers to the Goddess. These are usually followed by a musical procession through the streets where participants sing sacred songs to praise Gujeswari. The activities come to a close after sunset with more prayers and songs that are usually followed by a fast until the following evening.

It is around this time of the year in the Basari villages of Senegal that the young men are initiated into manhood. The elaborate rituals take months to preparation that test both the minds and bodies of the candidates. The initiates then compete against each other in village games to demonstrate their courage and masculine strength. The festivities are brought to a close with a feast dance.

Earth Science Photo of the Day for November 17th

Krafla Volcano, Iceland

November 17, 2011

Krafla-IMG_1442

Photographer: Stu Witmer
Summary Author: Stu Witmer

 

Seen above is the water-filled maar (explosion crater) of Stora-Viti on the slopes of Krafla volcano near Reykjahlid, Iceland. There are actually two craters named Viti in Iceland: the other one is on the Askja volcano in the island’s central highlands. The Viti pictured here was blasted to life in 1724 at the beginning of the Myvatnseldar (“Myvatn fires”), a series of explosions, earthquakes, fires and flowing lava that lasted five years. Krafla sits atop the mid-Atlantic Ridge, one of the most geologically active spots on Earth. After a 250-year dormant period, Krafla erupted again from 1975 to 1984 (“Krafla Fires”). With all this activity it comes as no surprise that Iceland, known for its extensive use of geothermal energy, has a power station on the mountain just south of the lake. Photo taken September 10, 2011.

Photo details: Camera Maker: Canon; Camera Model: Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS; Focal Length: 5.0mm; Aperture: f/8.0; Exposure Time: 0.0050 s (1/200); ISO equiv: 80; Exposure Bias: none; Metering Mode: Matrix; White Balance: Auto; Flash Fired: No (enforced); Orientation: Normal; Color Space: sRGB.