Thaipusam

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). It is celebrated not only in countries where the Tamil community constitutes a majority, but also in countries where Tamil communities are smaller, such as Singapore and Malaysia.

Kavadi Attam is a dance performed by the devotees during the ceremonial worship of Murugan, the Tamil God of War. It is often performed during the festival of Thaipusam and emphasizes debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from the God Murugan.

Generally, Hindus take a vow to offer a kavadi to idol for the purpose of tiding over or averting a great calamity. For instance, if the devotee's son is laid up with a fatal disease, he would pray to Shanmuga to grant the boy a lease of life in return for which the devotee would take a vow to dedicate a kavadi to Him.

Sue and I were able to experience Thaipusam Eve at Batu Caves. Batu Caves often sees in excess of 1 million people come to the caves during the holiday which lasts for several days. The American Association took us up so we would not have to park.

You cross the small river to a "staging area" where Hindus are getting their head shaved and preparing to climb the 272 steps to the top of Batu Caves with their offering. Some are the small silver pot of milk. Others are giant circular kavadis carried on their shoulders. These people have others with them who will carry a stool so the carrier can sit down and rest on his way. Then they carry these heavy burdens up 272 steep steps. Supposedly the carriers and other Hindus get into a trance which allows them to carry their burden.