Did you know that piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks is pretty common for primarily male Hindu devotees who do it to discipline the mind and the body so that they can achieve internal and external purification?
Thaipusam, or Thaipoosam, is a sacred festival that is celebrated by the Tamil community. The festival is celebrated on January 18 and typically attracts thousands of Hindu devotees who flock to temples to pay their respects.
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In Singapore, part of the celebrations typically involves a 3km walk from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road.
Devotees, who come in the massive crowds, will carry either a Paal Kudam (milk pot) or Kavadi (wooden or metal structure with milk offerings) while they do this walk and will play musical instruments along the way.
Of course, with Covid-19, celebrations have been muted for the last two years and the procession has not been allowed to be carried out. Unfortunately, this will remain the same this year with devotees banned from carrying out a foot procession.
Vaccinated devotees can only worship in groups of five and they will also need to pre-book a slot at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple before they can enter.
That said, devotees are allowed to carry milk pot offerings into the temple. They will be allowed to enter the temple through a special queue and will be permitted to bring one other vaccinated person with them.
Milk pots will be pre-prepared and handed out to devotees at the River Valley Road entry point if they wish to carry the pots and walk around the sanctum in the temple. This symbolic walk around the temple sanctum is meant to replace the foot procession.
There will be a total of four holding zones and only 700 people will be allowed inside the temple at any one point so pre-booking is extremely important.
If this is the first time you are hearing about Thaipusam, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the celebration and the symbolic activities that are carried out on this day.
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1. What is Thaipusam about?
Thaipusam is a Tamil thanksgiving festival and is meant to encourage devotees to have control over their senses.
In Tamil folklore, Thaipusam is celebrated in honour of a battle between the Asuras and the Devas. The Devas were defeated multiple times by the Asuras and approached Lord Siva to acquire a leader who could lead them to victory. Shiva granted their request by sending his son to help them, according to Singapore Infopedia.
The Devas were able to defeat the Asuras after that and this is why Thaipusam is celebrated.
It is believed that by celebrating Thaipusam, devotees can remain physically and mentally well and that it clears them of karmic debts.
