Multicultural Singapore - The Colourful Thaipusam Festival
If you were on a Singapore City Tour in the last 2 weeks, you might have been lucky to experience the Hindu Thaipusam Procession. This festival is in honour of Lord Subramaniam (aka Lord Murugan) who represents virtue, youth and power. Also seen as the destroyer of evil, devotees celebrate Thaipusam for 2 days.The festivities start in the early morning with Lord Murugan's chariot procession from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Serangoon Road to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, Tank Road.
Picture of Lord Murugan
On your Singapore Excursion, your Private Tour Guide will able to show you devotees carrying milk pots which are a symbol of abundance and fertility. Some followers carry "kavadis" which symbolise the burden. They are meant to be the sacrifice through which the believer implores help and blessings from Lord Subramaniam. Many tributes are expressed by piercings of the flesh such as skewers put through the tongue or hooks on the back.
Sacrifice on Thaipusam
Thaipusam Sacrifice
Spectacular views at Thaipusam
The kavadi is a semi-circular wooden or steel frame decorated with peacock feathers and flowers. It gets hoisted onto the shoulders and is supported by bars. Some kavadis can be as heavy as 40 kg and as high as 4 m! Many frames have spikes that stick into the body are carried 4,5 km from one temple to another.
The Thaipusam Festival is celebrated on the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). So, if you have missed out this year, just book your day tour in Singapore with your Personal Tour Guide for next year! They will certainly be able to find the best spot to witness this amazing spectacle!