An young man has got possessed by the Vodou spirit right under the Saut d'Eau waterfall during the annual religious feast (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).
Every year in summer thousands of pilgrims from all over Haiti make the religious journey to the Saut d'Eau waterfall (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).

Every year in summer thousands of pilgrims from all over Haiti make the religious journey to the Saut d'Eau waterfall (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).
Noisy drum music and dancing are the integral part of the Saut d'Eau religious feast in Haiti (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).

Noisy drum music and dancing are the integral part of the Saut d'Eau religious feast in Haiti (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).
Haitian women make bathing and cleaning ritual under the 100-foot-high waterfall of Saut d'Eau (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).

Haitian women make bathing and cleaning ritual under the 100-foot-high waterfall of Saut d'Eau (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).
The Saut d'Eau waterfall, a main pilgrimage site in Haiti since 1847 when Virgin Mary has appeared on a palm tree here (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).

The Saut d'Eau waterfall, a main pilgrimage site in Haiti since 1847 when Virgin Mary has appeared on a palm tree here (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).
A Haitian woman performs the cleaning and spiritual ritual to worship Our Lady of Mount Carmel during the annual religious celebration (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).

A Haitian woman performs the cleaning and spiritual ritual to worship Our Lady of Mount Carmel during the annual religious celebration (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).
A spontaneous gathering of people under the Saut d'Eau waterfall shows the moment when some of the Vodou spirits of Iwa have manifested themselves (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).

A spontaneous gathering of people under the Saut d'Eau waterfall shows the moment when some of the Vodou spirits of Iwa have manifested themselves (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).
A Haitian woman makes the bathing ritual using medicinal herbs in the Saut d'Eau waterfall (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).

A Haitian woman makes the bathing ritual using medicinal herbs in the Saut d'Eau waterfall (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).
A woman has got possessed by the Vodou spirit in the Saut d'Eau waterfall during the annual religious feast (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).

A woman has got possessed by the Vodou spirit in the Saut d'Eau waterfall during the annual religious feast (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).
An young Haitian boy performing the cleaning and spiritual ritual right under the Saut d'Eau waterfall (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).

An young Haitian boy performing the cleaning and spiritual ritual right under the Saut d'Eau waterfall (Ville Bonheur, Haiti).

Vodou and Catholic ritual Saut d'Eau

Saut d'Eau, Ville Bonheur, Haiti – 19 July 2008

Every year in summer thousands of pilgrims from all over Haiti make the religious journey to the small village of Ville Bonheur and the nearby Saut d'Eau waterfall. It is believed that 150 years ago the spirit of Virgin Mary has appeared on a palm tree close to the waterfall. Haitians wearing only underwear perform a bathing and cleaning ritual under the 100-foot-high waterfall. Vodou followers (many Haitians practise both vodou and catholicism) hope that Erzulie Dantor, the Vodou spirit of water, manifest itself and they get possessed for a short moment, touched by her presence.

I believe this religion was created by African slaves who were brought to Haiti in the 16th century and still followed their traditional African beliefs, but were forced to convert to the religion of their slavers. Vodou shares many similarities with other faiths of the African Diaspora, including the Louisiana Voodoo of New Orleans, Santería and Arará of Cuba, and Candomblé and Umbanda of Brazil. A Haitian Vodou temple is called an Hounfour.

Free Church Software

14.06.2010 – 21:21

That is not accurate; you cannot link voodoo and the church like that. I'll give the benefit that you’re not a complete moron. Therefore get the story strait.
Voodoo is as Haitian as "mayi-moulin” and that from the making of this nation we never embrace the white man religion so we hide our own believe in the “loas” behind the icon of the Catholic DO NOT make it sound like it’s a regular practice , because the true “Vodouyizan”(like myself) don’t Fuck whit catholic and vice versa . the reason why we have loas linked to the saint has its origin back in slavery time when the oppressor in order to have complete control (body ,mind & soul)over the slave force them to become Christian(Catholic), but the slave did not like this white God that did not care much for their well being, so they remain attach to the spirit from back home (Africa) were they used to be free and independent but voodoo practice was punishable by death , so to avoid those consequence they use the Christian iconic heroes while they continue to worship their “papa loas” “ epi lam-mède”.

John Horniblow

06.02.2010 – 08:43

Jan , this is an excellent reportage. wow I love it .

John Horniblow

09.12.2009 – 16:54

Erzulie Freida, not Dantor. Very good photographs.

Anna

21.07.2009 – 19:57

Some powerful and beautiful imagery here. Fantastic site too!!!

sean turner

12.01.2009 – 21:22

Hi Jan, Very nice work... I see lots of new stuff on your web page (since the last time I visited). Regards, Veba

Velibor Bozovic

11.01.2009 – 00:52

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