10, 000 Devotees Go Bald

The giving of hair - which symbolizes surrendering one's vanity/beauty to God is a traditional Hindu practice. It evidences the devotee's deep love for God and their detachment to material things like looks. Many men and women shave their heads bald to honor the divine. Yesterday at the Thaipusam festival there was a tent with Indian barbers working furiously - over 10,000 heads were shaved.