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.
