About Thaipusam தைப்பூசம் - The Hindu festival of Thaipusam is celebrated on the full moon day in the Tamil month of Thai. Thaipusam is a thanksgiving festival where devotees celebrate the fulfilment of their vows. During Thaipusam, Hindu devotees walk from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (SSPT) to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple (STT) over a distance of 4km with their offerings for Lord Sri Murugan.
Kavadi - The simplest kavadi consists of a short wooden pole surmounted by a wooden arch. Pictures or statues of Lord Murugan or other deities are fixed onto the arch. The kavadi is decorated with peacock feathers and a small pot of milk is attached to each end of the pole.
There are more elaborate kavadis that devotees carry. The alagu and ratha kavadi are common forms of kavadi carried by devotees during Thaipusam. Kavadis are affixed on a bearer’s body by long sharpened rods or by chains and small hooks. A kavadi bearer not only carries a gift for God but the whole kavadi is seen as a shrine for God Himself.
Devotees who intend to carry kavadis are customarily required to observe strict physical and mental discipline. Purification of the body is a necessity. This includes taking just simple vegetarian meals and observing celibacy. According to orthodox doctrine, rigid fasting and abstinence have to be observed over a 48-day period prior to the offering of the kavadi on Thaipusam Day.
Piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common. This prevents the devotees from speaking and gives them great powers of endurance.
https://thaipusam.sg/
Thaipusam Singapore (8 FEBRUARY 2020 | SATURDAY)
Singapore:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAeAGzx4T4uVA2YpKOn08KLd8z8e8PJzb
