Thaipusam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம்) (or Thai Poosam Kavady) is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan/Feb). Pusam refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates both the birthday of Lord Murugan (also Subramaniam), the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (lance) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.
(Quote from Wikipedia)
Having lived in Singapore for so many years, this is actually my first live encounter of the festivities. Seeing men walking barefooted with metal pieces attached to their bodies is definitely not a pleasant sight to behold. Joining the crowds of Indians along the road, I waited for the devotees to walk by. The practise of carrying these elaborate 'head piece' is called Vel Kavadi. These fixtures are portable altars of the various Hindu Gods in which one would carry and attach to his skin. It is claimed that one does not feel the pain of these piercings.
No comments:
Post a Comment