Welcome to Thaipusam, Singapore 2010! I have been in Singapore for 5 years and had never managed to get to witness this amazing Indian Hindu Festival. But on Saturday 30 January Daniela and I got up early and went to the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road to do just that..What we witnessed was a very moving and wonderfully expressive display of devotion.
It is mostly a Tamil Festival and so popular in Singapore where most of the resident Indians come from Tamil Nadu in the south of India.
Thai is the name of the Tamil month Jan/Feb and Pusam refers to a star which is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates both the birthday of Murugan (also Subramaniam), the youngest son of god Shiva and his wife Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.
A health warning. A key part of the devotional practice is to to undergo various degrees of body piercing. There is no blood. but if you are sensitive to images that show piercing, then many of these images are not for you!
In two weeks I'll show you some other photos, without any piercing, of the people of Thaipusam
Come with me now on a photographic tour of this very singular event.
Alan
7.30 in the morning and already some
devotees were out of the temple and
taking part in the procession
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
Milk is also in these small containers hooked
to this man's back
The forms of kavadi vary in style
and intensity. This devotee is
pulled back as he pushes forward,
the hooks straining in his skin
The most elaborate kavadi is a cage-like
structure. It is traditionally decorated with
peacock feathers and aluminium plates
which show images of Hindu deities.
They can weigh 15 KG. This
is one of the more elaborate
kavadis
Typically devotees do not demonstrate pain
when they are being pierced. It is said
this is because of their devotion and they
are in a trance like state. Some claim
they are drugged
You can see the kavadi is supported on the
shoulders with cushions
Beautifully elaborate
Many had lovely staffs. Typically the devotees
would walk up a hill to a shrine as they do in
Kuala Lumpur. But it's all flat in Little India!
Generally, Hindus take a vow to offer a kavadi
to Murugan for the purpose of tiding over or
averting a great calamity
The greater the (burden of) pain the more
worthy the offering
The temple was full of devotees being
prepared (painfully) for the procession.
But even in the midst of the intensity a
smile breaks through!
Some devotees prepare for the celebration
by cleansing themselves through prayer
and fasting.
Most of the devotees who took kavadi were
men but there were also some women. The
spear that goes through the cheeks and
tongue is called a vel.
The vel represents the lance or spear
carried by Lord Murugan to ward off
evil and it also symbolises wisdom
99.9% of worshippers are Indian but there
were also a few Chinese
This is a mega vel!
The remaining photos are dedicated to two
devotees of Murugan. The first, an experienced
Thaipusam participant, the second possibly a
a Thaipusam virgin. They both held my
attention......... and camera! So we start with
a very stoic and patient and striking devotee
at the beginning of his preparations
The vel is in place through the cheeks.....
....and the tongue and then the mouth is
hidden by a decorative and beautiful cover.
Small chains are attached and the head is
glorious and complete
All the work has been finished. He sits in silent
contemplation, apparently oblivious to the
photographers jostling to get the perfect shot.
All hooked up and ready to pull
his chariot
Coming out of the temple to start the 3 km
to the second temple we leave this devotee.
Now I'd like to introduce you to the other
devotee.
He was not quite so stoic! Typically the people
that prepare and support the devotees who
take kavadi are the relatives
The limes signify protection
The face says it all. He did need, and get, lots
of encouragement and support from his family
And he managed to complete the process.
It was very moving to see the way the
family interacted and his determination
despite the pain he was clearly feeling
One last shot of a man's tongue being pierced
Look away now if it makes you queasy!
And this is the temple where it all happened,
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple. In two weeks
I'll post a second edition of the other people
I saw. It will be the pierce-free edition!
I hope to see you then.
