Typically held in the month of January on a date prescribed by Hindu astrologers the Thaipusam Festival is an annual event that honors Lord Murugan who is known to symbolize youth, virtue and power in Hindu lore. Also known as the ultimate destroyer of evil the deity who is also identified by the name Subramaniam is commemorated on this sacred two day festival which is often described as one of Singapores most colourful cultural offerings.
Commemorated by Tamil communities the world over as a festival that pledges obeisance, secures blessings and gives thanks for the blessings of the preceding year the Singaporean celebration is concentrated in and around the Tamil inhabitants of Little India. The days leading up to the festival sees the statue of Lord Murugan decorated in jewelry and other embellishments while his two consorts Devayani and Valli are also decorated and placed on a chariot.
On the first day of Thaipusam devotees carrying Kavadis and milk pots set off in the wee hours of the morning from the Sri Srinvasa Perumal Temple to head down to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple on Tank Road. The milk pots are offered to Lord Subramaniam at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple while some pilgrims pierce their tongues and lug wooden arches decorated with flowers across their shoulders.
Others are seen carrying kavadis having completed special spiritual preparations a month before. Maintaining a vegetarian diet and an abstinent lifestyle the devotee who hopes to carry a kavadi must be free from all material longings and physical needs so that he may take on the sacred task at hand without reservations.
Carrying a kavadi is a popular custom in most Hindu religious festivities which also takes centre stage at the Thaipusam where placing the kavadi at the altar of Lord Murugan and making offerings of milk are said to cleanse the mind and soul and garner blessings from the deity.
The main highlight of the event is of course the chariot procession which commences from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple down Serangoon Road which heads off on a journey to the Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple on Keong Siak Road. Symbolizing Lord Murugan seeking blessings from his sibling Lord Vinayagar the procession is a 4.5km long affair full of colour and spectacle.
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