Thaipusam

Thaipusam

Thaipusam is a famous Hindu festival observed in South India by the Tamil community people in the honor of the Lord Murugan who is the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. On this day Goddess Parvati gives a lance to her son Lord Murgan to crucify the demon army of demon king Tarakasura and combat theirs evil desire. Therefore it is a celebration of the victory of the good over the bad or evil.

When is it celebrated?

Thaipusam is the combination of two Tamil word “Thai” which is a tamil month and “Pusam” is the name of star , so the festival is celebrated in the Thai months (January-February) of Tamil calendar when the Posam star is at its highest point , which generally occur on the full moon day of the Thai months .

How It Is Celebrated?

To celebrate Thaipusam , devotees of God Murugan offers him flowers and fruits of orange or yellow color , which is his favorite colors and people also wears clothes of the same color. Devotees offer milk, water, and fruits or floral tributes on the pails which are hung with a yoke and carries Lord Murugan on their shoulders to nearby Murugan temples. This wooden-bamboo semicircular structure known as Kavadi, which is covered with clothes  and decorated with the feathers of peacock and carried on the shoulders, which is known as the vehicle of God Murugan.

On this day, devotees offers  prayers by piercing or by mortification of  their bodies with spikes & lemon and by pulling a chariot of  Kavadis (burdens) from nearby Lord Murugan Temple. The simplest Kavadis is carrying a pot of milk on a shoulder. The devotees worshiped and offer  prayers to fulfill their vows and wish.