Thaipusam



Thaipusam festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February).The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the month, Thai, and the name of a star, Pusam.The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a Vel "spear" so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.

 Thaipusam is associated with the Kavadi. It involves Lord Muruga testing the determination of Idumban, the student of Sage Agasthya.


Another myth revolves around Lord Muruga eavesdropping into the conversation between Lord Shiva and Parvati. Lord Shiva was rendering an important mantra to Parvati and Lord Muruga listened to it by hiding. Parvati discovered that Lord Muruga was eavesdropping and cursed him.

Lord Muruga acknowledged his mistake and started a penance. Parvati was pleased and appeared before him with Lord Shiva. Thaipusam is believed to be the day in which Parvati appeared before Lord Muruga.

Kavadi :

Carrying kavadi is a practice of penance or prayaschittam. The tradition of carrying kavadi was started by a great devotee of Lord Muruga, Idumban, who worshipped Lord Murugan at the Palani Hills temple in Tamilnadu. He created the first kavadi. It was a simple structure that consisted of a straight horizontal branch of a tree with two small pots of milk tied at either end and decorated by a wooden arch, flowers and peacock’s tail feathers. Idumban also pierced a small vel shaped skewer across his cheeks. Idumban carried the kavadi from the foothills of Palani to Lord Murugan’s Palani Andavan temple at the summit of the hills and offered the milk for Lord Palani’s  abishekam.

Since those ancient times, the forms of kavadi have become more elaborate. During Thaipusam these days devotees can be seen carrying kavadis as simple as a pot of milk balanced on their heads to elaborate structures rising up to two meters above the head with multiple body piercings. Devotees carrying kavadi usually wear yellow garments. Yellow colour symbolizes purification.

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."

Preparations :

Devotees prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting approximately 48 days before Thaipusam. Kavadi-bearers have to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of assuming the kavadi and at the time of offering it to Murugan. The kavadi-bearer observes celibacy and take only pure, Satvik food, once a day, while continuously thinking of God.
On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi . At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common.

Celebrations :
Thaipusam is mainly celebrated in the Tamil speaking world. In India, it is celebrated in the Southern State of Tamil Nadu and in parts of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Thaipusam celebration at the Batu Caves in Malaysia has become world famous. It is also celebrated with much fervor in Singapore.
Devotees carry Kavadi to Murugan temples on this day. Nowadays, Thaipusam celebrations garner international attraction for the body piercing with vel  by devotees.

2017 Date : 10th February.



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