July 17, 2010
Source: The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/16/AR2010071605769.html
Smoke from 121 fire pits rises and mingles with the chants of hundreds of people gathered under a massive tent at an 11-day Hindu festival in Rush, N.Y.
The Atirudram ceremony commemorated the 12th anniversary of the Sri Vidya Temple Society, just south of Rochester. The ritual is held to reenergize and spiritually cleanse the temple, its surroundings and those who participate. Sri Rudram, an ancient purifying hymn dedicated to the deity Shiva, is chanted continuously during the ritual. Over the 11 days of the ceremony, the Rudram is chanted 14,641 times.