Thaipusam is an important festival observed by the Hindus of southern India during the Tamil month of Thai (January - February). Outside of India, it is celebrated mainly by the Tamil speaking community settled in Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and elsewhere around the world.
Dedicated to Lord Murugan or Kartikeya
Thaipusam is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan, the son of Shiva and Parvati.
Murugan is also known as Kartikeya, Subramaniam, Sanmukha, Shadanana, Skanda
and Guha. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati presented a lance
to Lord Murgan to vanquish the demon army of Tarakasura and combat their evil
deeds. Therefore, Thaipusam is a celebration of the victory of good over evil.
Read more about Murugan or Kartikeya
How to Celebrate Thaipusam
On the Thaipusam day, most devotees of Lord Murugan offer him fruits and flowers
of yellow or orange color - his favorite colors and also adorn dresses of the
same color. Many devotees bear milk, water, fruits and floral tributes on pails
hung from a yoke and carry them on their shoulders to various Murugan temples,
far and near. This wooden or bamboo structure called 'Kavadi' is covered with
cloth and decorated with feathers of peacock - the vehicle of Lord Murugan.
Thaipusam in Southeast Asia
Thaipusam celebrations in Malaysia and Singapore are known for their festive
fervor. The most famous Kavadi pilgrimage on the Thaipusam day takes place at
the Batu Caves in Malaysia, where a large number of devotees head towards the
Murugan temple in procession carrying the 'Kavadi'. This festival attracts over
a million people each year at the Batu Caves, near Kuala Lampur, which houses
several Hindu shrines and the 42.7 meter high statue of Lord Murugan that was
unveiled in January 2006. Pilgrims need to climb 272 steps to access the temple
on the hilltop. Many foreigners also take part in this Kavadi pilgrimage. Notable
among them are Australian Carl Vedivella Belle, who has been taking part in
the pilgrimage for more than a decade, and German Rainer Krieg, who went on
his first Kavadi in the 1970s.
Body Piercing on Thaipusam
Many fanatical devotees go to such extent as to torture their bodies to appease
the Lord. So, a major feature of Thaipusam celebrations is body piercing with
hooks, skewers and small lances called 'vel'. Many of these devotees even pull
chariots and heavy objects with hooks attached to their bodies. Many others pierce
their tongue and cheek to impede speech and thereby attain full concentration
on the Lord. Most devotees enter into a trance during such piercing due to the
incessant drumming and chanting of "vel vel shakti vel."
