Thaipusam 2024 Part-1 | Thaipusam Singapore | Singapore Thaipusam 2024 | Kavadi

Thaipusam 2024 | Thaipusam Singapore | Singapore Thaipusam 2024 | Kavadi
The Hindu festival Thaipusam is celebrated in Singapore on Thursday 25 January 2024. Devotees pierce their skin with skewers and kavadis and walk along a 4 km foot procession aided by the sound of live music from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.Thaipusam is a sacred Tamil thanksgiving festival involving asceticism and control over one’s senses. According to Tamil folklore, Thaipusam and the foot procession are celebrated in honour of Lord Murugan (also known as Lord Subrahmanya), who represents virtue, youth and power, and is the destroyer of evil.Thaipusam or Thaipoosam is a festival celebrated by the Hindu Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai around January/February. In 2024, Thaipusam will be held on 25 January 2024.
Thaipusam in Singapore usually attracts thousands of Hindu devotees who fulfil their vows over a 4km walk from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road carrying either a paal kudam (milk pot) or kavadi (wooden or metal structure with milk offerings). In keeping with an old tradition that was revived in 2016, musicians line the procession route, a wonderful addition to the already festive atmosphere.The arrival of devotees habitually starts with prayers, and around midnight, the first group of devotees carrying pots of milk and kavadis (semi-circular metal structures decorated with peacock feathers, flowers and palm leaves), leave for the journey from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple back to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.
The word kavadi translates to “sacrifice at every step”, while the milk offering symbolises the cleansing of the mind and soul; devotees who pierce their tongues or carry a spiked kavadi are believed to only be able to undertake this sacred task without feeling any pain when they have freed their body and mind from material and physical wants
The Thaipusam procession is expected to start at 11.30pm on 24 January, when the first batch of devotees will start their journey to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple on Tank Road from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road. If you wish to catch a glimpse of this amazing festival you can try station yourself along this 4km route or head to Little India (along Serangoon Road) on Friday 25 January as early in the morning as possible. In fact, in order to carry a kavadi, a devotee has to prepare himself spiritually and live a life of abstinence (including a strict vegetarian diet) for at least a month. While it is quite an amazing sight to watch devotees carrying kavadis, this is a sacred religious act, so visitors are requested to be respectful and not distract the focus of the devotees.
Another highlight of Thaipusam is usually the beautiful live Indian music, set up along the 4km route (covering Hastings Road, Short Street and Dhoby Ghaut Green). Devotees believe music is useful in reducing pain and enhancing their spiritual focus throughout their journey. Bhajan (devotional hymns) singers may accompany kavadis throughout the route, and musicians are usually allowed one traditional percussion instrument and one handheld instrument.

[@sbangalore9063]

❤❤❤❤