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Thaipusam and the kavadi
The Tamil festival of Murugan, when devotees carry kavadi burdens, some with hooks and skewers through the skin.
About Thaipusam and the kavadi
Thaipusam is kept on the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai, in January or February, to honour Murugan, who was given a spear to defeat the demon Surapadman. Devotees prepare for weeks with fasting, celibacy and prayer, then carry a kavadi, a decorated frame or vessel of milk, in fulfilment of a vow for a granted wish or a recovered health. Some also pierce their cheeks, tongues or backs with a vel skewer or hooks, which they and the temple helpers say is done in a trance and with little pain or blood; observers differ on how to explain this. The best-known gatherings are at the Batu Caves in Malaysia and at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple in Singapore, and rules there now limit the use of music, alcohol and some piercings.
Entries tied to it
Also part of it, and being written: Thaipusam (The festival.), Kavadi Aattam (The burden-carrying dance and vow.).
Written by the EveryJaadu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Thaipusam" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family, and are described as belief and practice. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Kartikeya: Dassmahen, CC BY-SA 4.0, source