Thaipusam is an annual festival in which millions of Hindu devotees across the world take part in one of the world’s most passionate spiritual celebrations. "Thaipusam 2010: Faith, ritual and body piercings", "Thaipusam | Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Singapore, Singapore", "8,000 Hindu devotees take part in Thaipusam festival", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thaipusam&oldid=981086412, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, The festival commemorates the occasion when, This page was last edited on 30 September 2020, at 05:54. The golden statue of Lord Murugan standing just to the right of the caves is 140 feet tall, the tallest image of him in the world. In the ensuing scuffle, Idumban was defeated.

The Devas were unable to resist the onslaught of the Asura forces. Shiva granted their request by creating the mighty warrior, Skanda, out of his own power or Achintya Shakti. Although the Thaipusam festival is celebrated in India (mainly South India), you can witness it anywhere there is a sizable Tamil community. Thaipusam is most remembered for the handful of worshipers who pierce their faces and bodies with swords, skewers, and hooks. Even walking on burning coals is sometimes a part of the festival. Thaipusam is usually celebrated with a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Penang and Selangor only. 1.3 million mark Thaipusam – Star newspaper. Depending on the location of the temple, this walk to the temple can take more than a week. In the United States of America, the Shiva Murugan Temple in Concord, California celebrates the Thaipoosam preceded by a walk. [2] Devotees process and dance along a pilgrimage route while bearing these burdens. They surrendered themselves completely and prayed to Shiva. They organize a long procession and have kavadis available in exchange for donations. Beat the heat of the day and start at sunrise for an authentic experience. [2], A more elaborate kavadi consists of two semicircular pieces of wood or steel which are bent and attached to a cross structure that can be balanced on the shoulders of the devotee. Flowers and peacock feathers are used to decorate during the festival. Worshipers ask Lord Murugan for strength to overcome obstacles they face, whether external or within themselves. He's been living and working on the road since 2006. [11], In Singapore, Hindu devotees start their procession at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in the early morning, carrying milk pots as offerings or attaching "kavadis" and spikes pierced on their body. Bogar (an ancient siddhar and devotee of Murugan) made the statue of Murugan in Palani, with the mixture of several sidhha medicines. At Mount Kailas, Lord Shiva entrusted the dwarf saint sage Agastya with two hillocks, the Shivagiri Hill and the Shaktigiri Hill, with instructions to carry and install them in South India. Thaipusam 2020 Date & Kavadi Attam Celebrations. Thaipusam in Mauritius is celebrated with thousands of attendees taking Cavadee. On the eve of Thaipusam, the Hindus gathered together at Sree Soepramaniem Nagarattar Temple at Kejaksaan Road to accompanying a 125 years old chariot or locally known as Radhoo from the temple to the main temple Thaipusam celebrations in Malaysia and Singapore are known for their festive fervor. Vel! [citation needed], At its simplest, the pilgrimage may entail walking the route carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common. They take only one vegetarian meal per day and 24 hours before Thaipusam, they must maintain a complete fast. Thaipusam in Southeast Asia . Kavadi Attam is a dance performed by the devotees during the ceremonial worship of Murugan, the Tamil God of War. Idumban sought the help of a scantily dressed youth, but the youth claimed the hillocks belonged to him.

Thaipusam is a public festival. This is known as the Nagarathar Kavadi. Regardless, Thaipusam commemorates Lord Murugan's gift of a vel (spear) from his mother, Parvati, the Hindu goddess of love and fertility. Tongues are often pierced and pinned through the cheeks as a symbolic gesture of the volunteer giving up the gift of speech.

The kavadi aattam is steeped in mythology. Murugan is the embodiment of Shiva's light and wisdom and devotees pray to him to overcome the obstacles they face, as He is the divine vanquisher of evil.

above the drumming in the procession. Near Palani in South India — where there is a famous shrine of Murugan — Idumban put the hillocks down to rest awhile. The temple of Murugan in Palani is a popular destination, as it is one among the arupadai veedu ("six houses" - the sites sacred to Murugan). Thaipusam Festival: Ritualistic Face and Body Piercing. But the volunteers who do make the sacrifice create quite a spectacle. Greg Rodgers is an experienced travel writer, photographer, and world nomad. transportation and accommodation will be way busier than usual in places such as Kuala Lumpur. The Kavadi Attam ("kavadi dance") is a ceremonial act of devotional sacrifice through dance, food offerings, and bodily self-mortification.It is often performed by devotees during the festival of Thaipusam in honor of Murugan.The kavadi is a semicircular, decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that the pilgrim carries on their shoulders to the temple. At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk (pal kavadi),[2] but piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common. Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Fiji have made Thaipusam into a national holiday. Thaipusam falls on the day of the full moon during the Tamil month of Thai (unrelated to Thailand). In anger, the frustrated child left the divine parents and came down to Tiru Avinankudi at the Adivaram (pronounced Adivâram and means foot of the Sivagiri Hill). Thaipusam isn't the only festival in Asia where worshipers pierce their faces with swords and skewers. The kavadi aattam is steeped in mythology. Heavy, intricate shrines known as kavadis are attached to volunteers with sharp skewers. Festivals 0 Comments.

Idumban then realised that the youth was Lord Murugan. [citation needed], Devotees prepare for the celebration by keeping their body always clean, doing regular prayers, following a vegetarian diet and fasting before the Thaipusam.

The Kavadi Attam (Burden Dance) Thaipusam is most remembered for the handful of worshipers who pierce their faces and bodies with swords, skewers, and hooks. They symbolize the burdens carried.

In Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple, 3 Day Theppotsavam will be held during Thaipusam Pournami. The completely unrelated Phuket Vegetarian Festival in Thailand (part of the Taoist Nine Emperor Gods Festival) is another place to see people getting pierced in a frenzy. [9], Outside India, Thaipusam celebrations take place in USA, Mauritius, Malaysia, South Africa and Singapore. Many claim that their wounds heal nearly immediately and don't produce scars. Volunteers are assisted with body piercing and mutilation to show their devotion.

Lord Muthukumaraswamy will bless devotees in Thanga Guthirai Vahanam (Golden Horse), Periya Thanga Mayil Vahanam (Golden Peacock), Theppotsavam (Float Festival) during the 10 day festival. In Madurai Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple, Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Theppotsavam (Float Festival) will be held at Mariammam Theppa Kulam. Last edited on 30 September 2020, at 05:54, Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, Penang, https://www.keralatourism.org/event/thaipooyam-festival-haippad/46, "Malaysia : AllMalaysia.info has all you want to know about Malaysia", "Festivals, Cultural Events and Public Holidays in Mauritius", "MOM: Bid to make festival a public holiday will stir competing claims", "Vaikasi Visakam and Lord Murukan LALALALA", "Thaipusam in Palani, Tamil Nadu (India)".

Barcelona. In addition, some pierce their tongues or cheeks, all the way through, with a small spear. If you want to join a Thaipusam celebration, plan well ahead. Dates change from year to year because the festival is based on a lunar event; however, Thaipusam always takes place in either January or February. [8], A similar practice is performed by the Nagarathar community in Pazhani, India. Thaipusam is celebrated in many different countries outside of India mainly in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, Reunion island and by their Diaspora in western countries such as UK, Germany, France, Italy, South Africa etc. The Thaipusam festival is an intense spectacle to witness.

Fire walking and flagellation may also be practiced. Much like other Hindu festivals, Thaipusam is a colorful, chaotic celebration, but it isn't as messy as Holi! Unless your interest in Thaipusam goes beyond the need for exciting social-media material, stay out of the way! Idumban found the two hillocks but could not initially lift them, until he obtained divine help. The largest of the burdens, known as the vel kavadi, requires the person carrying it to be pierced by 108 small spears (vels)! It is commonly believed that Thaipusam marks Murugan's birthday; Some other sources suggest that Vaikhasi Vishakam, which falls in the Vaikhasi month (May/June), is Murugan's birthday.[6]. This festival was (according to one tradition) said to have been supposedly created during one of the battles between the Asuras (or to be more specific Soorapadman) and the Devas.

Kavadi attam, India. Guide to Major Indian Holidays and Festivals, 10 Quirky and Unusual Festivals in India to Marvel Over, February 2020 India Festivals and Events Guide, A Year-Long Calendar of Malaysia's Top Festivals, January in Asia: Weather, What to Pack, and What to See, Nag Panchami Festival in India: The Complete Guide, Guide to 2020 Krishna Janmashtami Govinda Festival, 2020 Puri Ratha Yatra Festival: Essential Guide, Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh: The Complete Guide, 20 Popular Temples and Spiritual Places in Bangalore. Thaipusam is also spelled as Thaipoosam. Don't get in the way of actual worshipers who are there for religious and personal reasons.

It is often performed by devotees during the festival of Thaipusam in honor of Murugan. The kavadis are then carried through the crowd until finally removed for prayers at a designated place. The Malaysian island of Penang is another place to enjoy a slightly scaled down celebration of Thaipusam.

Pitchers of milk are carried on the head as offerings. pp. Thaipusam was once a public holiday in Singapore but was removed along with a few other religious holidays. A large, chaotic procession moves between temples or shrines. For information about experiencing Thaipusam in the United States, contact the Shiva Murugan Temple in Concord, California. Thaipusam traditionally falls on a full moon. [2] The devotees prepare themselves by following strict purification austerities that include:[1], On the day of the festival, devotees undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). Facial and tongue piercing are common, as are other forms of self mutilation. Thaipusam celebrations in South East Asia. Devotees process and dance along a pilgrimage route while bearing these burdens. Tourists are allowed to take photos and follow the procession, but keep in mind that some people anticipate Thaipusam all year! Participants wear yellow and orange, colors significant to Lord Murugan.

The kavadi procession are also happening at the day, but it takes on different temples around Medan and other parts in the province depends on them celebrate it. Muruga had been made it impossible for Idumban to lift the hillocks.

The devotee makes the pilgrimage (the nadai payanam) with bare feet, bearing food offerings on the kavadi. Later, Murugan withdrew to the hill and settled there as a recluse in peace and solitude. Thaipusam or Thaipoosam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம், Taippūcam ?