Repiquet / Bénard - Bhakti : Dévotion à l'Île de la Réunion - 2006

Bhakti: Devotion to the Island of Réunion

Sylviane and Claude Repiquet as well as Roland Bénard have created “Renaissance Editions” specifically for the publication of this book devoted to Hindu devotion in Réunion. These 3 photographers have selected 1,000 of their shots, i.e. a tenth of their collection, to illustrate this work. The result is remarkable. The 3 years of work represented by all these color photos culminate in a 432-page, large-format volume, weighing 4 kilograms!

Christophe Poussier, an independent journalist in Réunion, enriches the images with numerous texts. At the outset, he establishes a history of the Indian presence on the island. He then quickly moves to texts that are much more oriented toward presenting Hinduism in Réunion. He explains what the book’s title means: “If Buddhism will be the path of wisdom, Hinduism will be that of devotion, bhakti that will blossom and dominate all doctrines.”

He recalls the high points of devotion: “The ceremonies unfurl the Tamil calendar at a steady pace. They can be classified into three categories. The festivals of Kali, Kavadi, Mariamman, the fire-walking, Govinden or the Dipavali are all major events that draw a considerable crowd. Through their processions, they, with the temple facades, represent the most visible aspect of Hinduism in Réunion. But beyond these long-planned public celebrations, temple and chapel activity continues. There are more discreet ceremonies, without musicians or procession, occurring on a monthly or weekly basis, or even daily in the large temples. In addition, one must add the annual services organized by families who maintain a domestic shrine and the propitiatory family rites [which have the virtue of making propitious - NDLR] such as the “black hen ceremony” for the goddess Pétiaye and the sambrani for the deceased.”