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| THAIPUSAM
FESTIVAL |
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| Celebrated In
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Tamilnadu |
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| Associated
with :
Peanance and Atonement |
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| Deity
Worshipped :
Lord Subramanya |
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| In the month
of :
January - February |
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| The Hindu people are intense about their
religion, and take some extraordinary measures to display their devotion. A
good example is the Thaipusam festival. Thaipusam is the feast for the son of
Shiva, Lord Subramanya. Celebrations of this festival are carried out at almost
all the temples of Lord Subramanya. This festival is celebrated in the month of
January/February. |
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| Thaipusam is a festival from Tamil Nadu
associated with penance and atonement. Lord Subramanya is the universal granter
of wishes. All those who wish to ask for a future favor, fulfill a vow in
return for a granted favor, or to repent for past sins participate in this
festival (basically, all Hindus fall in one of these groups). Devotees walk
long distances, carrying offerings, to reach the temple of the Lord. Many
devotees raise the stakes by entering a trance, and piercing their bodies with
skewers.
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| To the uninitiated Thaipusam is a stunning,
totally unexpected assault on the senses. Hair-raising sights of human bodies
covered in hooks, which anchor huge Kavadis (ritualistic yokes) balanced on
heads and cheeks pierced with small spears, wooden tongues and arrows. The most
elaborate Kavadis can weigh as much as 80 pounds, a platform ornately decorated
with peacock feathers, Christmas decorations, even plastic dolls!
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Celebration At Palani
At Palani Thaipusam is a ten-day festival held in the Periyanayaki temple.
Since the festival falls in January - the post harvest season, the exuberance
of the agriculturists and their lusty participation lends unique splendour to
the temple. The most remarkable feature of this festival is the parading devout
'Bhaktas' (devotees) bearing Kavadis.
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| The yellow robed 'Bhaktas' coming from several
distant places dance their way through the streets to reach the Muruga Sannidhi
to the accompaniment of music, both instrumental and vocal. Many strangely and
ghastly traditions, like the lips pierced with mini silver lance, and locking
of the mouth with metal ring to maintain perfect silence and drawing of small
make shift chariot with its chain hooked into the back of devotees strike the
eye of spectator during the festival. |
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