Pelhourinho Carnival- Salvador de Bahia

Exu or Eshu is an African Orisha (Orixa) from the Candomble religion as he is called elsewhere is the guardian of Streets alleyways, houses and towns. He is sometimes confused with Satan because he is irreverent and plays tricks. H.e also wears red and has a white face. This is wrong as he is not the devil and this religion does not have a devil. All Orixas can be positive and negative. Exu is the origa of communication, patience and discipline so he has two sides to him. What you see here is where the ceremony requires that they feed and drink Exu. They poured whisky on the streets and maize and tapioca and smoked cigarettes in his honour. Some of the Bahians were possessed by spirits of their ancestors during the ceremony. You can actually see it with one Bahiana and one guy too- the way their eyes roll and their face changes.