Witch Walk 2022 is an annual event celebrating witchcraft and the occult. It is a gathering of like-minded individuals who come together to honor and explore their shared interests in the supernatural. The event offers a variety of activities, such as workshops, rituals, and performances, all centered around witchcraft and its various traditions. The Witch Walk aims to create a welcoming and inclusive space for people of all backgrounds, regardless of their level of experience or knowledge in witchcraft. It provides an opportunity for individuals to connect with others who share similar beliefs and interests, fostering a sense of community and belonging. The event often features guest speakers who are experts in their respective fields, offering insights and teachings on various aspects of witchcraft, such as spellcasting, divination, herbalism, and more.
The other major source of religious swearing is the caste system. Hindi has a large number of imprecations which are actually references to caste. “Chamaar”, a very common swearword in Delhi, is simply the name of a Dalit caste whose most famous member is Mayawati. Similarly for “kanjar”, a caste which once upon a time practiced hereditary prostitution. The word "kaminaa" comes from a Persian word "kamin" which means “low” (neech) and is equivalent to calling someone “low-caste”. So the next time, you feel all smug about Indians leaving caste behind, just listen around. These everyday obscenities show just how deeply embedded caste is in Indian society.
Mariana Turner, the origin of this problem can be traced back to 1940 when US Marines introduced 60 canines to Guam mainly Doberman Pinschers, German Shepards, and a few mongrels. Mariana Turner, the origin of this problem can be traced back to 1940 when US Marines introduced 60 canines to Guam mainly Doberman Pinschers, German Shepards, and a few mongrels.
The event often features guest speakers who are experts in their respective fields, offering insights and teachings on various aspects of witchcraft, such as spellcasting, divination, herbalism, and more. These workshops are designed to educate and inspire attendees, allowing them to deepen their understanding and practice of witchcraft. In addition to workshops, attendees can also explore an array of vendors and booths offering a wide selection of spiritual and magical goods.
Why dogs and puppies are swear words in India: A short guide to Hindi profanity for the BJP
Why dogs and puppies are swear words in India: A short guide to Hindi profanity for the BJP
Most terms of abuse in the subcontinent have to do with notions of honour, specifically sexual dominance over a presumably weaker rival.
Shoaib Daniyal · Yesterday · 07:30 pm
Photo Credit:Sahhaf Hussain/AFP
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A furore has erupted over Union Minister VK Singh’s statement on Thursday absolving the Bharatiya Janata Party government of any blame in the case of two Dalit children being burnt alive in Haryana on Monday. "If someone throws stones at a dog, the government is not responsible," said Singh, displaying a marked insensitivity in his choice of analogy.
This isn’t the first time that a BJP leader has messed up by choosing a canid phrase to describe a tragedy. In 2013, Narendra Modi seemed to compare the Muslims killed in the 2002 Gujarat pogrom to puppies. When asked whether he regretted the 2002 riots he replied, “Any person if we are driving a car, we are a driver, and someone else is driving a car and we’re sitting behind, even then if a puppy [kutte ka bachchaa was the exact term used] comes under the wheel, will it be painful or not?”
Without going into the political merits of either controversy, it is interesting to know that most, if not all, Westerners would be completely befuddled by all of this. While “bitch” is a common swearword in English (which has its origins in comparing a woman to a dog in heat and, thus, once meant “slut”), however, the word “dog” is almost never used as a profanity. And calling someone a puppy means, if anything, something mildly positive in the English language. In Hindi, though, kutte ka bachchaa turns out to be a rather offensive phrase.Kutte ka pilla, a more offensive synonym, could easily lead to fisticuffs.
Anglo-swearing
Given that most people reading this article are probably bilingual in English and an Indian language, it's interesting to see just how different the principles of profanity are in these two linguistic cultures.
English swear words can, by and large, be grouped into three categories: sexual (genitals, the F-word etc.), bodily functions (the most obvious being "shit") and social identity (race, nationality, parentage or even disability – on Indian Twitter, variants of the word “retards” and "moron" are shockingly common).
Not so long ago, there would have been a fourth category: religious. Until fairly recently, a curse like “damn” (wishing damnation upon a person) was quite an escalation when it came to verbal violence. Most famously, the 1939 film Gone with the Wind used the line, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" and created quite a controversy. Today, however, these words would act as mere interjections and can be used in most setting without any danger of appearing too rude.
Desi obscenities
Most subcontinental languages such as Hindi-Urdu have a rather different set of principles which drive their profanity. They can broadly be divided into religious, sexual (including incest) and honour.
The first silo, religious swearing in Hindi draws from two main sources: Hinduism and Islam. Ironically for Modi, the fact that kutta is a swearword in Hindi is, in all probability, drawn from the Islamic contempt for the animal. Similarly, pig or suar (much like kutte, also used commonly as a paternal slur, as most famously illustrated by Gabbar Singh in Sholay) is also another swearword that draws upon the intense Islamic dislike for the animal.
The other major source of religious swearing is the caste system. Hindi has a large number of imprecations which are actually references to caste. “Chamaar”, a very common swearword in Delhi, is simply the name of a Dalit caste whose most famous member is Mayawati. Similarly for “kanjar”, a caste which once upon a time practiced hereditary prostitution. The word "kaminaa" comes from a Persian word "kamin" which means “low” (neech) and is equivalent to calling someone “low-caste”. So the next time, you feel all smug about Indians leaving caste behind, just listen around. These everyday obscenities show just how deeply embedded caste is in Indian society.
Obsession with incest
Sexual swearwords are common throughout the world but by far the most macabre and unique part of the Hindi swearing system is its emphasis on incest. Hindi’s most obscene gaali refers to intercourse with one's mother, the number two being, somewhat unimaginatively, intercourse with one’s sister. And, in what is most interesting, the Hindi swearword for the former actually uses the Persian word for mother. Perhaps actually using the common Hindi word "maañ" was just too close to the bone. So the actual profanityis a half-bowdlerised, somewhat more palatable version, which uses the Persian “maadar” instead. It’s almost as if the speaker is saying, “I'm going to abuse the shit out of your venerable maataaji but maybe if I do it in flowery Persian, you won't mind all that much, sir, now will you?”
English has the term “motherfucker” too, but its connection with incest is far weaker. One strongetymologyfor "motherfucker" traces it as a term developed by enslaved Africans in the United States to refer to White slave owners, since they were frequently involved in the sexual abuse of female slaves.
Oddly enough, Hindi has no equivalent to English’s most common swearword, “fucker” which, if you come to think of it, isn’t all that odd in the first place. We all are, or at least aspire to be (looking at you, engineers), “fuckers”. It is an odd word to use as a term of ridicule.
Notions of honour
The biggest category of Hindi expletives, though, refers to various notions of honour prevalent throughout the subcontinent. Honour encompasses a very wide field. Most of it though has to do with sexual dominance over a presumably weaker rival. Hence, in Hindi, a boast by a male to penetrate other male is a common gaali.
As this example shows, India, with its casual acceptance of homosexuality (as opposed to the West) is (almost) an equal opportunity offender when it comes to sexual swearwords. That, of course, doesn’t means that we aren’t completely messed up as well. Sex in India is largely treated as a battlefield of honour. And all sexual relationships involve the bartering of honour, wherein one person loses it and the other gains it, no matter how “legitimate” the sexual relationship.
Take the word sala, for example. It's probably Hindi's most popular obscenityand is only mildly offensive. It literally means one's wife's brother. By calling someone a sala you are in short proclaiming that you dominate him because you have had sex with his sister. Similar problematic connotations exists for sasur (father-in-law) whereby you now claim to have now had sex with his daughter.
This might seem odd to most people reading this now, but these swearwords serve to illustrate a deep-seated Indian mindset about the shame embedded in just about any sexual relationship. Recall any Indian wedding and the impossible cockiness displayed by the groom’s family members. It flows from the same mindset as "sala". The marriage is a sexual exchange where the men are supposedly superior to the women.
Tehmina Durrani’s novelBlasphemytalks about a Sindhi custom which takes this mindset to its (logical?) extreme. A certain community in Sindh actually goes so far as to mourn the marriage of a daughter. "Why?" asks a character in the novel. "Because it means allowing a man to have intercourse with her," is the answer. Subcontinental societies take an extreme, almost Dworkinian view, of allsex as a form of domination. And this view is so widespread that a swearword like sala is considered mild.
Guam Animals In Need (GAIN) and the Guam Humane Society have been working to address this issue. One approach taken was to provide free spay and neuter services to pet owners. This reduced the number of unwanted litters. In recent years, these efforts have had some success. The number of dogs euthanized in Guam decreased from over 3,000 in 2011 to under 1,000 in 2019.
From crystals and tarot cards to spell kits and potions, there is something for everyone to discover and take home as a memento of the event. Rituals are an integral part of the Witch Walk, providing participants with the opportunity to come together and engage in powerful collective magic. These rituals are often centered around specific themes or intentions, such as healing, empowerment, or ancestral connection. By participating in these rituals, attendees can tap into the energy of the collective and harness its power for personal and spiritual growth. Beyond the educational and social aspects, the Witch Walk also serves as a platform for activism and social justice. Many attendees and organizers use the event as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for various causes and initiatives that align with their values and beliefs. Ultimately, Witch Walk 2022 is an immersive and transformative experience for all those who attend. It offers a space for exploration, connection, and empowerment, allowing individuals to embrace their witchcraft practice and celebrate their unique spiritual journey. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or new to witchcraft, the Witch Walk welcomes all who are curious and open to the magic that lies within..
Reviews for "Witch Walk 2022: A Spellbinding Journey Awaits"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to watch "Witch Walk 2022" as I love supernatural thrillers. However, I was left disappointed with this film. The storyline was confusing and lacked depth. The characters were underdeveloped, making it hard for me to connect with them. The film had potential with its unique concept, but unfortunately, it fell flat in execution. The scares were predictable, and the jumpscares felt forced. Overall, "Witch Walk 2022" failed to deliver the thrills and suspense I was hoping for.
2. John - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "Witch Walk 2022" after seeing the intriguing trailer. But when I actually watched the film, I was left feeling unsatisfied. The pacing was too slow, and the plot felt scattered. There were too many unnecessary subplots that diluted the main storyline. The acting was mediocre, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The special effects were also lacking, and the film failed to build a sense of fear or tension. Overall, "Witch Walk 2022" was a letdown and didn't live up to its potential.
3. Emma - 1 star - I regret wasting my time on "Witch Walk 2022". It was one of the most boring and unoriginal horror films I've seen. The plot was predictable, and the scares were laughable. The characters were one-dimensional, and I didn't care about their fates at all. The editing was sloppy, with awkward transitions between scenes. The film lacked any real substance or depth. I wouldn't recommend "Witch Walk 2022" to anyone looking for a good horror movie. Save your time and watch something else.