FuFu Life in Curitiba - Brazil 30th July 2010 | Part Seven
It's been a week since i had arrived Curitiba on 23rd July 2010. Well, i was still waiting for a confirmation from another host (Couchsurfing.com) while staying with Oldy here in São Francisco area (just next to the Centro area). He has a one vacant room which he would always used for couchsurfers and he was thinking if it's alright to rent it since he has many outstation trips.
On this fine Friday, i came to Largo do Ordem, a square with historical buildings and churches that situated just block away from the apartment. The weekly flea market of the city is taking place here too. Besides hanging around the city centre, i spent roughly half an hour or more sitting at the square watching every movement happened here in Curitiba. Tourists stopped by and snapped pictures, local came and sat on the benches, buses and cars passing by. What a life!
I know most of the people won't do this but i am a world citizen! I wanna know the lifestyle of the local and also everything (bottom up) about the city i am living now. I don't wanna simply waste my time here just doing a research project or enjoying the city like a passer by!
After that, i walked to a park located not very far from the square.
Not trashes, they were from the cotton trees.
Araucaria tree, only can be found in Curitiba, southern Brazil.
Ops, FuFu saw a mosque in Curitiba, Brazil!
It's Mosque Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib.
Just like any mosque you can find in Malaysia, Indonesia or Singapore.
FuFu is not Muslim but felt like at home!
FuFu is a free thinker and respects all religions!
Battery of my DSLR was running out, and i didn't bring the extra one out. Luckily, the sky was painted purely blue the following day. Quickly, before going to school, i took my camera out and walked around the historical area again. A perfect day for photography to kick off after breakfast!
As part of the historical neighborhood, Largo da Ordem of São Francisco covers some of the oldest buildings in Curitiba. It includes, for example, Casa Romário Martins (built in 18th century), the Church of the Third Order of St. Francis (1737), the Red House and construction of the second half of the 19th century and many other century-old buildings.
The Church of the Third Order of St. Francis
Should our pre-war buildings be painted like this?
Wanna have a drink at this bar enjoying the view?
Here FuFu walked to the fountain again.
Hardly you can find anyone here.
So quiet in the morning.
Why the city is always clean? There's people cleaning it.
Simply love the floor-tile!
The consulate of Italy.
Guess what building is this?
It's a police station!
Couple of policemen taking in front of the building.
Not only you, FuFu was shocked to know that too.
Bet it must be later transformed to a police station.
A lovely Portuguese-Brazilian church.
The parking place for motorcycle beside the sidewalk on a street.
So what do you guys think? A lovely neighbouthood right? Lucky enough to be able to stay in the middle of the downtown!
Waiting to cross the road instead of walking the underpass.
FuFu Life in Curitiba - Brazil 24th July 2010 | Part Six
FuFu was welcomed by the priest and everyone was clapping!
FuFu from Malasia (Malaysia).
Most followers of Umbanda believe that there are three distinct levels of spirits. (Source : Wikipedia)
1. Pure Spirits - this level includes the angels, archangels, cherubim and seraphim, spirits that reached spiritual perfection. They are equated to the Biblical entities that communicated with the prophets and the Virgin Mary.
2. Good Spirits - this level includes the spirits that possess mediums (psychics) or initiates during the Umbanda public ceremonies and act as Guias (guides) giving counseling to the believers.
3. Darker Spirits - this level comprises spirits like the Exus and Pomba Giras of Quimbanda which practices are typically associated with magic, rituals involving animal sacrifice.
The Law of the Reincarnation states that God creates spirits with self-will all the time. The spirits universally pass through many stages of evolution. They have the choice of being good or bad, through ordinary acts and the love that they display towards other people. When they "die", the spirits judge themselves. The good ones advance to a superior stage of spiritual evolution. Those who not succeed should reincarnate in the same or in an inferior level.
Umbanda ceremony are generally open to the public and may take place several times a week. Atabaques (Conga drums) and chanting play a central role in some Umbanda congregations. The ceremonies may include offers to the spirits comprising fruits, cheap wine, farofa, cachaça, popcorn, cigarettes, hard cider and other types of food or beverages. Each Orixá or spirit receives a proper offering, and initiation rites that range from the simple to complex.
During the ceremony, the priests (Pai de Santo) and priestesses (Mãe de Santo), devotees (Filhos de Santo) and the public attending the meeting sing together, dance, drink beverages and smoke cigars (during the break and second part of the ceremony). The priests and priestesses and devotees are separated from the attending public, usually by a small fence. The priests, priestesses and the devotees would eventually get immersed in the singing and dancing session, and suddenly get possessed by deities and spirits, starting to act and speak with their personas while whirling.
Those in the public attending who become possessed are recognized as owners of special psychic power and, usually, after the ceremony, are invited to become followers or believers. Intervention by spiritual beings in followers' daily lives is a central belief, so participation in Umbanda rites is important to appease deities and spirits. Music and dancing are always present in the Umbanda rituals. The public sing together the "pontos", religious songs intended to improve the psychics' concentration level. Sometimes, an experienced priests or priestesses or devotees can dance and sing all night without, for mysterious reasons, being possessed by deities or spirits. Sometimes, people use an alcoholic beverage like cachaça to induce the trance.
While the priests, devotees and some of the public gradually get immersed in the singing and dancing, and suddenly some of the devotees got possessed by deities and spirits, starting to act and speak with their personas. Amazing whirling. Check out the video above!
After both singing and dancing sessions, some of the public attending that wish to be followers/believers were called in front and see how little ceremony done by the priests and priestess. Also check out the statues they are praying every time and also the pictures of the deceased reputable priests.
Then, the priests and priestesses would do the prayers for every participant. See how they spread the holy water on me while singing. Hence, FuFu now is protected by Umbanda's spirit. Hooray! Stay strong FuFu.
There's a sexy Brazilian girl dancing in front of FuFu.
Belly dance? Check it out! LOL
The priest then came and talked to my Oldy (my host). Oldy told me that the priest wanna invite me to join the new followers in front and i was sitting on a chair. There, surrounded by the devotees who danced happily and the priest showered me holy water and did his prayers to also the new followers. Quite an interesting ceremony as i could sit in front watching every little stuff clearly but was not sure what the offering they were using except candles and holy water.
A devotee volunteered to take the video for FuFu.
See FuFu? The guy on the right with dark blue sweater.
"Ayeye, Ayeye...", the priest kept repeating. See how the devotees communicate with their own persona/spiritual god. They were dancing so HIGH, as if after having drug. The prayers of priest and priestess, however, couldn't be shown clearly from this clip and i was told to close my eyes.
All devotees took turn to communicate with their own personas.
The priestess walked around and greeted all devotees and followers.
Check out the below videos for second part of the ceremony.
See how the priest give invisible power to the new followers.
Basically, the new followers or any participant who need help would tell the priests and priestesses their own problems. As you see from this video, once got the message told, the priest would ask the lady to have a sip of wine before giving her power from his body via both hands. Every priest or priestess would definitely have an assistant to bring people to the priest or priestess. Also before the counseling session started, priest or priestess would greet the follower (check out the video).
FuFu was wondering how could this lady be that HIGH?
See also how the other priest giving power to another lady.
Finally, a new follower managed to communicate with her persona.
During the second part of the ceremony, priests or priestesses play the "jogo de búzios," which is divination by the arrangement formed when sea snail shells are thrown in the soil (too bad i couldn't visit all counselling counters, just could show you guys some). Cards can be also used for reading (Tarot or simple playing cards), priests or priestesses also give advice to those who seek it and produce Rezas fortes ("strong prayers") for those who need them to evade troubles with other people, diseases, lack of money, marital quarrels, unrequited love, and other challenges. Foods, beverages (wine and cachaça), cigar smoking, etc were used for the divination. Interesting.
After all, it's a nice and interesting ceremonies to me who had just arrived Brazil. Yet, i still don't quite believe Umbanda. I was there just approximately two hours after all. Anyway, Brazil definitely has many more exotic cultures, religions, musics and art waiting me to explore. Stay tuned guys as i would do my best sharing all adventures i am going to have here in Brazil with you guys.
