Saturday, February 25, 2012

Ubin Sunrise

Location: Pulau Ubin Island, Singapore
Pictures taken on 25th Feb 2012
All pictures © all rights reserved.
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Friday, February 17, 2012

Children of Thaipusam

Location: Little India, Singapore
Pictures taken on 6th and 7th Feb 2012
All pictures © all rights reserved.







Monday, February 13, 2012

Thaipusam 2012: Devotion (Part 3)

Location: Little India, Singapore
Pictures taken on 6th and 7th Feb 2012
All pictures © all rights reserved.
Information text on Thaipusam courtesy of Wikipedia.
Click pictures to see large

Click here to see Part 1
Click here to see Part 2

Thaipusam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம்) is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February).

On the day of the festival, devotees will undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk (known as Paal Kadum), but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common.












Saturday, February 11, 2012

Thaipusam 2012: Burden (Part 2)

FOLLOWING SCENES MAY BE VERY DISTURBING TO SOME.
Scenes of religious self mutilation are shown in this post.
DO NOT VIEW IF YOU ARE ADVERSE TO SUCH SCENES.

Location: Little India, Singapore
Pictures taken on 6th and 7th Feb 2012
All pictures © all rights reserved.
Information text on Thaipusam courtesy of Wikipedia.
Click pictures to see large

Click here to see Part 1
Click here to see Part 3

Thaipusam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம்) is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February).

On the day of the festival, devotees will undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk (known as Paal Kadum), but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common.

Some have a small spear through their tongue, or a spear through the cheeks. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord Murugan. It also prevents him from speaking and gives great power of endurance. Other types of kavadi involve hooks stuck into the back and either pulled by another walking behind or being hung from a decorated bullock cart or altar on wheels, with the point of incisions of the hooks varying the level of pain. The greater the pain the more god-earned merit. One of the most spectacular is known as the Vel Kavadi - essentially a portable altar up to two meters tall, decorated with peacock feathers and attached to the devotee through 108 hooks or skewers pierced into the skin on the chest and back.










Friday, February 10, 2012

Thaipusam 2012: Preparations (Part 1)

Location: Little India, Singapore
Pictures taken on 6th and 7th Feb 2012
All pictures © all rights reserved.
Information text on Thaipusam courtesy of Wikipedia.
Click link below pictures to see large
Click here to see Part 2
Click here to see Part 3


Thaipusam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம்) is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). The word Thaipusam is derived from the month name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel "spear" so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadam.

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. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from the God Murugan. Generally, Hindus take a vow to offer a kavadi to idol for the purpose of tiding over or averting a great calamity, or granting a wish.

Preparations.


Chanting.

In another world. Man goes into trance.

Man in trance giving out blessings, while people around him rushed to get blessed.

Emotional explosion. Had to be held down by three men.

Young boy preparing for the festival.

Proud father putting his son's head-dress on.

I am number 4181.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Little India After Hours

Location: Little India, Singapore
All pictures © all rights reserved.
Click pictures to see large


Went on a late walk in little India recently. Spent some time talking to some of the foreign workers about their life and getting to know them. Most of them are very friendly and very nice people. Even though the work may be hard and demanding, they are proud that they are making a decent living and providing for their family. It is really fun to watch them relax and having a good time just enjoying their time off.

Relaxing after the shower.


You pedal, I steer.


Cafe Back Alley.


Cafe Back Alley 2.


TV time.


Just hanging out.
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