Thaipusam is celebrated every year on the day when the full moon in the month of "Thai" meets the brightest star "pusam". Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated at the full moon in January / February. During the festival celebrating the Hindu mythological event where Parvati ransmission to God of the war Murugan a spear with which he killed the demon Surapadmana. Murugan - eldest son of Shiva and Parvati, the god with six heads and twelve hands, god of youth, beauty, courage and strength. Despite the fact that the roots of this festival in India - there this festival is prohibited.
This festival starts with ten day fasting. They believed that this position enables pilgrims to merge with the God.
Devout Hindus weeks observe strict fasting and abstinence throughout disclaim intoxicating drinks, sex, tobacco and eat very sparingly and only once per day. Eating meat is prohibited. Hundreds of Hindus vow of physical suffering to the great Murugan. Flesh torturing is the way to express gratitude to Murugan, which is also called Subramanyamom.
- I wanted to get education and find a good job. Everything is came to pass , - says Prakash, a young Singaporean Hindu. He was confident that his achievements shall Murugan. Along with hundreds of other people Prakash came early in the morning to the temple of Sri Srinivasa Perumal at Indian district of Singapor to fulfill his vow to the God.
During the festival Hindus perform vows action of torturing their flesh. Many participants of the procession carry a small loads, which they attach to the body by small fishing hooks. Usually they are either on the chest or on the back. Procession call themselves "penitent sinners" and try to earn God's blessing and absolution.
Somebody carry a small steel milk containers, others attach oranges or limes, others pierced tongue or cheeks by silver needles or sharp iron tridents for keeping silence during the procession, so they can focus at the meditation and their God.
Somebody pulling mobile altars with their deities by fishing hooks in the back.
But the main is a wearing "kavadi". Kavadi is a wooden or steel arc, strengthened by a special support on the shoulders. At the ends of each arc are to thirty copper spikes that dig into the body. Each kavadi arc can be weighs about 17 pounds.
Young Hindu sure that strict fasting and abstinence help him to endure the pain. He came with a prayer and brought honey, milk and flowers, but this is not enough.
- The most important thing that I can bring as a gift to my god, it's a pain - he said.
- To win the favor of Murugan you need overcome the pain. Many Hindus believe in that. Our parents teach us.
Singaporean Hindu stuck to their half-naked bodies sharp arrows and iron hooks, wear special sandals with spikes. Fresh wounds dripping blood flows in streams on the road, their eyes lit with inexpressible delight ... The tradition of this ancient ritual goes back two millennia .
In the Palani town (where the world's largest Murugan temple) at the Thaipusam festival about 10 thousand Hindu make kavadi dance. Palani is the largest pilgrimage site in Tamil Nadu, which is visited annually by about 7 million pilgrims each year.
Procession goes to the river for the ritual ablution and then to the temple.
Proccesion not worry about terrible heat and tourists, whom come every year to look.
Womens can take a part in this ceremony too.
Childrens are initiated to the tradition from early age, but they don't get ihjury. Some childs carry small comfortable kavadi.
With great difficulty procession overcomes 272 steps to the temple. Kavadi carryers have assistants, whom ready for supporting.
Done the heavy lifting to the temple pilgrims feels delight.
When the procession reaches the temple, the statue of Shiva's son poured "Sembu" - milk from the sacrificial pitchers. This ancient ritual symbolize life. Followers of the teachings believe that in the end of the 10-day abstinence and solemn rituals they liberated from all sins, blessing by Murugan or fulfill a vow made in a difficult life situation, which was resolved favorably through the intervention of God.
