Thaipusam Festival - 11 February 2006 Singapore

THAIPUSAM FESTIVAL is one of the Hindus festival of purification that is celebrated around February every year. This is what I heard today from an old lady who stand next to me in front of the Hindus temple. "Thaipusam is celebrated in honour of Lord Subramaniam (Shiva's son) by all devotees. A month before this festival, they have fasting for one month and then after that they celebrate the thanks during the full moon of 'Thai' Tamil month. Devotees will walk around three kilometers, carry shrines decorated with peacock feathers, kavadis with spikes piercing their bodies and skewers driven through their tongues, cheeks and offerings such as milk, fruits and flowers in this procession". Then I ask her a question, Do they feel the pains? She then say, well It is a display of belief that transcends pain. I feel so heart when I see this, but well this is for today.