Thaipusam

Photo credit to Yahoo Image.

Thaipusam is a hindu festival that falls on the full moon in Tamil month of  Thai, usually January or February. Thaipusam refer to the month name Thai and Pusam refers to the star that is at its highest point during the festival. Hindus celebrate this special occasion to show their sincerity of their faith to the son of chiva, Lord Subramaniam. 

Hindus who wish to ask for favor must make vows. Their vows will be fulfilled if their prayers are answered. Those who wants to repent for this past sins will participate in this festival.

A devotee will fast for a month before thaipusam is held. On the day itself, he will pierce his face, cheek, tongue or other body parts with skewers. His friends will chant and sing while one of them apply some white powder on the area where  the skewers are going through.

He will offer prayers by filling the metal containers with milk. Next, he will burn incense and light the oil lamps. When the prayers are done, a trusted friend or relative will start loading the kavadi frames onto his shoulder. He will then spreads the kavadi in a very unique pattern and slot the free ends into the kavadi. You will be surprise that there is no bleed at all and the devotee does not feel any hurt. During the prepration of this event, musicians will pound drums and blow bugles.

Once the devotees are ready, they will set off with their family and relatives rally around them. When each devotee walks out of the temple, his friend will lights up a de-husked coconut and chant a prayer. His friend will smash the coconut on the ground. This represents an obstacle that the devotee wants to overcome.

Some devotees will shave their heads and carry various types of kavadi (burdens) in the simplest way by carrying a pot of milk on their head.

Photo credit to Yahoo Image.

The devotees will walk a long way from the temple to the destination. Many passengers walking pass will certainly stop and look at them, resulting in heavy traffic. Drivers will be tolerant of the slow moving traffic as they respect their culture.

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