It's a Hindu festival that commemorates both the birthday of Murugan (also Subramaniam), the youngest son of god Shiva and his wife Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.
In Malaysia devotees will carry a kavadi and perform kavadi attam. (A dance performed to worship Lord Murugan, the Tamil God of war)
What is so cool about this celebration? We'll take a look.
(Editor's note: These images can be a little squeemish!) No, it is not photoshopped images. People really did this and weirdest part is they feel no pain and they don't bleed because they are in a trance.
I have seen it myself, it's scary and weirds me out, but it is very interesting.
Next year the Thaipusam in Malaysia is Jan 30th. Do visit! :)
Have you ever heard of Thaipusam? How do you feel about the images and the ritual itself?
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Comments (8)
Of course I know about Thaipusam. It's a Hindu celebration where you see all these people with skewers through every part of their anatomy that will make most hardcore, tattoed, piercing lovers cringe.
The sight of the festivities are not for the faint hearted, that's for sure!!
@EltonxEvermore@xanga - yeah lol... my younger bro fainted once watching them take off the piercing and stuff.... not that i was doing to well either >.<
@s_h_a_sha@xanga - Hahaha... it was intense especially when these kavadi attam carriers go into a trance. You sort of want to get out their way or be pierce yourself.
Oh Thaipusam is one of the most bizarre and most exciting religious celebrations. I never fail to feel awed by all these kavadi carriers and the how the devotees perform their religious rituals. It's a festival that tourists shouldn't miss.
The Batu Caves in Malaysia is famous for its Thaipusam celebration that it was featured a few times in the Globe Trekker series and the Discovery Travel and Living channel.
Yikes... those piercings are definitely over the top!! Brrrr!!
Ooohhhh I think this is one I will skip, or at the very most, observe from a distance.
this is the first time i've heard of it, sounds interesting.