Hindus celebrate Thaipusam on the tenth month of their calendar. It coincides with the full moon at the end of January and beginning of February 'Thai' is the Hindu month which falls between January 15 to February 15 and 'Pusam' refers to a star which is at its brightest during the period of this festival. In other words, in year 2011 the festival falls on January 20.
Celebrated in all parts of the world where there is a concentration of South Indians, the manifestation of the festival is best witnessed in Malaysia at Batu Caves (which is 10km from Kuala Lumpur) and Penang. The festivities cantered at Batu Caves is an exciting and thrilling spectacle.
In Kuala Lumpur, it culminates in a three-day Thaipusam festival which begins from Sri Mahamariaman Temple at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in Chinatown and ends at Batu Caves. On the eve of the celebration, Lord Muruga’s image is decorated with diamonds, rubies and other jewels.
Leading up to the event, Hindus prepare themselves by fasting, praying and observing austerities. Devotees carry offerings and climb the 272 steps to the main cave to seek forgiveness for past deeds or to thank Lord Muruga for wishes granted. Some devotees carry the Kavadi, a wooden arch with two pots of or honey at its end, decorated with peacock feathers. However bearing a simple pot of milk up to the shrine is all that is required
Kavadi (offering) carriers are devotees who have requested favours, have had the favour granted or wish to atone for past misdeeds.
Kavadi (offering) carriers are devotees who have requested favours, and have had their favour granted or wish to atone for past misdeeds. Usually, a vow is made to carry the kavadi for one, three, five or even seven years in succession. Common requests are recovery from illness, success in examinations or business or to beget progeny. Only a small number of women devotees pierce their bodies. Most of them carry pots of milk or a pair of coconuts slung across their shoulders instead. Traditional musical instruments are played, and chants of "Vel, Vel" fill the air.
These forms of offerings are overshadowed by more elaborate ones with huge metal frames and bedecked with decorations in the belief that the larger the kavadi the more resolute is one’s devotion. Skewers protruding through cheeks and metal hooks and spikes are also to be seen. This is a quaint evolution of the celebrations not found in Hindu Scriptures and its origins are lost in antiquity.
Once the devotees bath in the nearby river, they go into trance and have the kavadi placed on their shoulders or their body pierced, they walk from the river to the temple grounds and climb up the steps to the caves main temple high above. On reaching, they lay down their kavadi and the milk or honey offering is poured on the statue of the deity as an act of thanksgiving, Those with hooks and skewers have a priest chant over them as the metal implements are removed and the wounds treated with hot ash. There is not a drop of blood, no pain and even more amazing, no scarring at all.In other places in Malaysia, the festival is also celebrated. In George Town, Penang, it centred at the Natukkotai Chettair Temple at Jalan Kebun Bunga. To watch the celebration in Ipoh, go to the Kallumalai Arul Temple at Jalan Raja Musa on the banks of the Sungai Kinta. On Pangkor Island, the Thaipusam procession starts from Pasir Bogak and ends at the Sri Pathirakaliaman Temple on the eastern coast.
The crowds at all venues are huge, especially in Batu Caves. Interested visitors are strongly advised to go there on the eve of the festival and preferably at night to avoid the sweltering day-sun heat and the crowd on the festival day itself.
Source: Go2TravelMalaysia.com
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