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

This year, Thaipusam was celebrated on 30 January. I was so overwhelmed to cover the event until I didn’t sleep the night before. A biggest mistake as I feel so tired to cover whole event. So I arrived at Batu Caves around 5 am and just walked around to “study” the flow of the event. Where they went and what they are did.

For all the devotees, Thaipusam is a sacred occasion for them to take time to fulfil their vows to Lord Muruga for wishes granted and also to pray for specific wishes with vows.

As the ritual begins, many devotees prepare for the day by cleansing, fasting and abstinence before having their head shaved.

In the cold morning breeze beside the river at  Batu Caves, the devotees take a final wash cleaned themselves in a vow of purity.

The most extreme form of devotion though, is the piercing ritual. Preparation for the piercing ritual begins weeks before the day of the festival. Piercing devotees become possessed with the spirit of Murugan and go into a trance.

There various ways of ritual for devotees to carrying out their vows. Some devotees may choose to offer prayers by climbing up the stairs of Batu Caves with a milk pot on the head, others may carry the Kavadi or have a chariot hooked onto their bodies as they go into a trance and walk to the temple. There are also who may offer prayers and break coconuts as a symbol of laying off their egos to get divine blessings.

Couples carrying their babies on sugarcane poles for blessing.

I can say this is an epic journey for the devotees and also for those who be the witness for the event. There are so much culture in it and thats why I love it. Despite on the difficulty to be cramp with millions of people, hot and humid weather, plus the lack of energy, I still feel really satisfy because of this is one of the unique cultural event in the world. Even it just 15 minutes from my home. What else could I ask for?

So next year, Penang will be in my next target list. InsyaAllah.

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