The Thaipusam festival (also spelled Thai Poosam) is celebrated every year on the full moon day in the month of Thai; and Thaipusam 2009 falls on 8th February. It is a Hindu festival mostly celebrated by the Tamil community in India, Malaysia, Singapore and South Indian communities worldwide. It marks two occasions:
- the birth of Lord Murugan (also called Subramaniam, Skanda or Karthikeya), the Tamil god of war and youngest son of the Hindu gods Shiva and Parvati
- the victory of Murugan over the evil demon Soorapadman
Followers of Hindu festivals will know that the victory of good over evil, symbolized by god versus demon, is a common theme in Hindu mythology. The Diwali festival, for example, celebrates the victory of Lord Ram (or Rama) over the ten-headed demon Ravana.
The Meaning of the Thaipusam Festival
The Tamil word pusam refers to a star that is at its highest position during the festival. Because it is celebrated in the month of Thai, the festival is called Thaipusam. Its origin goes back to the legend of the demon (rakshasa) Soorapadman or Soorapadme who was protected against death from the hands of mortals and deities alike. Because he felt invincible, he soon started tormenting those he deemed weak.
Thus provoked, Shiva created a new deity – Lord Murugan – to bypass Soorapadman’s protection. Parvati, Shiva’s cohort, gave Murugan a spear (vel) so he could go out and fight Soorapadman. The demon, sensing defeat, turned himself into a tree but to no avail. Murugan split the tree with his vel in half, after which one half transformed itself into a flag and the other into a peacock. Murugan ordered the latter to embed itself onto the flag and used it thereafter as his battle standard.
Why Murugan Devotees Participate in the Thaipusam
Anyone can watch the Thaipusam celebrations – and the big celebrations in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur usually draw a crowd of a million devotees and tourists – but only a small percentage of those will actively participate. Lord Murugan, as the universal granter of wishes, is often approached by students hoping for good exam results or someone wishing for the good health of a sick friend or family member.
There is a catch, however. Every devotee wishing for something takes a vow to participate in the Thaipusam if his or her wish has been granted. Not honoring this vow is considered bad luck. Many devotees also participate because they want to repent for past sins or generally reaffirm the strength of their faith.
Participation can be in the form of:
- giving out water to devotees or providing first aid and other services,
- preparing special food (annadanam), usually daal (lentils) and rice or a vegetarian curry,
- carrying a “burden” called kavadi or kavathi.
How to Participate in the Thaipusam
Thaipusam devotees prepare during the weeks leading up to the Thaipusam by observing various rituals that are meant to purify body and mind:
- Observing a 48-day fast before the festival consisting of one vegetarian meal a day,
- Praying extensively at home and at the temple,
- Abstaining from carnal pleasures, and
- Observing silence as much as possible.
On the day of the festival, Lord Murugan’s idol is carried from one Karthikeya temple to another, which may be kilometers apart. Devotees (even children) shave their heads (or facial hair) as a sign of penance before joining the procession. The kavadi attam is a popular kavadi dance performed by everyone in honor of Murugan, the Lord of Dance. Thaipusam is a family affair and supporting a kavadi bearer is every family’s duty and honor.
What are the different kavadis?
- A pot of milk carried on the head;
- A small spear pierced through the tongue to symbolize the vow of silence;
- A metal rod pierced through the mouth (up to one meter long), signifying that the devotee has denounced the gift of speech temporarily and channeled his or her energy toward god;
- Hooking smaller burdens like lemons, oranges or coconuts into one’s flesh (on the chest or back);
- Bigger hooks attached to a devotee’s back and used to pull a cart;
- A portable altar of around 15 kg that is placed on a devotee’s shoulders and secured with metal rods to back and chest.
How Thaipusam Devotees Bear the Burden
Needless to say, this feat, especially carrying the biggest kavadi, cannot be done without devotion and belief. Therefore, the kavadi bearers are put into a trance by a swami (a yogi or guru) who will then skewer the skin or otherwise attach the various burdens. In fact, the atmosphere is so charged that even many a bystander is said to have fallen into a trance!
Once the kavidi bearers reach the Murugan temple, a swami removes the various hooks and spears and sprinkles holy ash on the pierced flesh. The kavadi bearer is said to feel no pain throughout and no scars remain, just elation and relief to have fulfilled the vow. And come Monday morning, it’s business as usual…
Find more amazing pictures in this Thaipusam article or read a detailed bystander’s account of Thaipusam at Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur.
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