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Thaipusam
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<h2 id="etymology">Etymology</h2> <p>Thaipusam is a portmanteau of two <a href="/facts/Tamil_language/7I0lHL0d">Tamil</a> words: <a href="/facts/Tamil_calendar/QMmJzNId">Tamil month</a> of <a href="/facts/Pausha/mPYA4ESX">Thai</a> and the name of the <a href="/facts/Nakshatra/ECt3bFw4">star</a> <a href="/facts/Pushya/p4S0t5kV">Pusam</a>, denoting the day of occurrence of the festival.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="theology">Theology</h2> <p>According to the <a href="/facts/Skanda_Purana/XqHmKfcp">Kanda Puranam</a> (the Tamil version of the Skanda Purana), three <a href="/facts/Asura/cC5nhAbW">asuras</a> (a race of celestial beings) <a href="/facts/%25C5%259A%25C5%25ABrapadm%25C4%2581/JLM4NGwS">Surapadman</a>, <a href="/facts/T%25C4%2581rak%25C4%2581sura/L4y4Irg0">Tarakasuran</a>, and Singamukhan performed austerities to propitiate the <a href="/facts/Hindu/D7TFhcg1">Hindu</a> god <a href="/facts/Shiva/SaHL5XBS">Shiva</a>. Shiva granted them various boons which gave them near-immortality and the ability to conquer the <a href="/facts/Trailokya/hwVgAHtV">three worlds</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> They subsequently started a reign of tyranny in their respective realms and oppressed the celestial beings including the <a href="/facts/Deva_(Hinduism)/sbUEHbVn">devas</a> and other people. The devas pleaded Shiva for his assistance to put an end to the reign of Surapadman and the asuras. In response, Shiva manifested five additional heads and a divine spark emerged from each of the six heads.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> Initially, the wind-god <a href="/facts/Vayu/EVeegH2t">Vayu</a> carried the sparks, but the fire-god <a href="/facts/Agni/zA4k3hgF">Agni</a> took possession of them afterwards because of the unbearable heat. Agni deposited the sparks in the <a href="/facts/Ganges/q0IGurvB">Ganga</a> river. The water in the Ganga started evaporating due to intense heat, and so the goddess <a href="/facts/Ganga_(goddess)/by8IWTxl">Ganga</a> took them to the Saravana lake, where each of the sparks developed into a baby boy.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> The six boys were raised by <a href="/facts/Handmaiden/86I4qJrj">handmaidens</a> known as the <a href="/facts/K%25E1%25B9%259Bttik%25C4%2581/VgNm7Qa5">Kṛttikās</a> and they were later fused into one by <a href="/facts/Parvati/D5watsHf">Parvati</a>, thus giving rise to the six-headed <a href="/facts/Murugan/yKmwcMhS">Murugan</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>Parvati granted him a divine <a href="/facts/Spear/CAs47lgJ">spear</a> known as the <a href="/facts/Vel/PCWpMr06">vel</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> Murugan was accompanied by <a href="/facts/Veerabaahu/4gkWWk5o">Virabahu</a> who served as his commander-in-chief and eight others, who were sons bore by nine <a href="/facts/Shakti/eG3Dfwlh">shaktis</a> who arose from the gems of the broken <a href="/facts/Anklet/r8NdzVmc">anklet</a> of Parvati, when she ran from her seat due to the heat generated by the sparks emanating from Shiva.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> Along with the armies of the devas, Murugan waged war on the asuras. Murugan split Surapadman into two with his vel and the two halves transformed into a mango tree and later into a peacock and a rooster. Murugan adopted the peacock as his <a href="/facts/Vahana/VUojgC32">mount</a> and took the rooster as his <a href="/facts/Cock_flag/6T0jxpoU">flag</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Thaipusam festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Murugan over the Surapadman.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p><p>Murugan is a deity associated with yogic discipline and austerities in Hinduism and is regarded by his adherents to be capable of offering <a href="/facts/Moksha/b3uuA7jI">mukti</a> (spiritual liberation) to those who venerate him.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="occurrence">Occurrence</h2> <p>Thaipusam occurs annually and is celebrated on the <a href="/facts/Purnima/dkPbvenS">full moon day</a> in the Tamil month of Thai on the confluence of star Pusam like other festivals.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="practices">Practices</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Kavadi_Aattam/BV39ewqx">Kavadi Aattam</a> is a ceremonial act of sacrifice and offering practiced by devotees during the Thaipusam festival. It forms a central part of the festival and symbolizes a form of <a href="/facts/Debt_bondage/QtsbSol0">debt bondage</a>. <i>Kavadi</i> (meaning "burden" in Tamil) is a physical burden which consists of a semicircular piece of wood or steel which are bent and attached to a cross structure in its simplest form, that is balanced on the shoulders of the devotee. By bearing the Kavadi, the devotees implore Murugan for assistance, usually as a means of balancing a spiritual debt or on behalf of a loved one who is in need of help or healing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> Worshipers often carry one or more pots of <a href="/facts/Cow_milk/wDJBUHvy">cow milk</a> as an offering (<i>pal kavadi</i>) or other objects such as <a href="/facts/Sugarcane/925qszH4">sugarcane</a>, <a href="/facts/Tender_coconut/RUYNhNo2">tender coconut</a>, and <a href="/facts/Flowers/7gI5Kefw">flowers</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> The most extreme and spectacular practice is the carrying of <i>Vel kavadi</i>, a portable altar up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall and weighing up to 30 kg (66 lb), decorated with peacock feathers and is attached to the body of the devotee through multiple skewers and metal hooks pierced into the skin on the chest and back.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p><p>People also do a form of <a href="/facts/Mortification_of_the_flesh/NKAoEFeo">mortification of the flesh</a> by <a href="/facts/Body_piercing/ECHodBSI">piercing</a> the skin, tongue or cheeks with <i>vel</i> skewers and <a href="/facts/Flagellation/a5fbcRMA">flagellation</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> Since public <a href="/facts/Self-harm/CKkaTnjK">self mutilation</a> is prohibited by Indian law, these practices are limited in India.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Vibuthi/NXTFFf3a">Vibuthi</a>, a type of holy ash is spread across the body including the piercing sites. Drumming and chanting of verses help the devotees enter a state of <a href="/facts/Trance/sUDcsJCp">trance</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> Devotees usually prepare for the rituals by keeping clean, doing regular prayers, following a vegetarian diet and fasting while remaining celibate.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> They make pilgrimage with bare feet and dance along the route while bearing these burdens.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> </p> <h3>Outside India</h3> <p>While the festival originated in India, it has spread across other countries with significant Tamil diaspora.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> It is celebrated in a much larger scale in some of the countries outside India.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> </p> South and South-east Asia <p>Thaipusam is celebrated in <a href="/facts/Sri_Lanka/VtTBmysE">Sri Lanka</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Myanmar/zcqQH2oE">Myanmar</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a> and countries in <a href="/facts/Southeast_Asia/VafwT517">Southeast Asia</a> notably in <a href="/facts/Malaysia/8zbUMzCP">Malaysia</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Singapore/CQDkhUvD">Singapore</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a> and <a href="/facts/Indonesia/vQnWU3IW">Indonesia</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30"><sup>30</sup></a> In Malaysia, the festival attracts thousands of people for the elaborate festivities at <a href="/facts/Batu_Caves/AYQKWvBY">Batu Caves</a> near <a href="/facts/Kuala_Lumpur/2dCzRWjL">Kuala Lumpur</a> and <a href="/facts/Arulmigu_Balathandayuthapani_Temple%2c_Penang/XwJmNTNM">Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, Penang</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31"><sup>31</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32"><sup>32</sup></a> It is a state holiday in <a href="/facts/Kuala_Lumpur/2dCzRWjL">Kuala Lumpur</a>, <a href="/facts/Johor/Rp1x21cf">Johor</a>, <a href="/facts/Negeri_Sembilan/7FBebKn9">Negeri Sembilan</a>, <a href="/facts/Penang/IWJa6K33">Penang</a>, <a href="/facts/Perak/rXGTUWwq">Perak</a>, <a href="/facts/Kedah/bopDPHka">Kedah</a>, <a href="/facts/Putrajaya/oMLIXLGu">Putrajaya</a> and <a href="/facts/Selangor/5gKNfr9G">Selangor</a> in Malaysia.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33"><sup>33</sup></a> </p><p>In Singapore, devotees start the procession at <a href="/facts/Sri_Srinivasa_Perumal_Temple/uWvL1ApQ">Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple</a> carrying milk pots and kavadis with spikes pierced on their body and proceeds towards <a href="/facts/Sri_Thendayuthapani_Temple%2c_Singapore/DtchWWqH">Sri Thendayuthapani Temple</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34"><sup>34</sup></a> It was a declared national holiday in Singapore until 1968.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35"><sup>35</sup></a> In Indonesia, processions are <a href="/facts/Medan/H97MoB2C">Medan</a> <a href="/facts/Palani_Andawer_Temple/7PxJCUH5">Palani Andawer Temple</a>, <a href="/facts/Aceh/IpUqEgot">Aceh</a> and Tiruchendur Murugan Temple Kalideres Jakarta. At Medan, pilgrims accompany a hundred year old <a href="/facts/Chariot/cSydqVFQ">chariot</a> locally known as <i>Radhoo</i> to <a href="/facts/Sri_Mariamman_Temple%2c_Medan/FpqpYrko">Sri Mariamman Temple</a> at <a href="/facts/Kampung_Madras/o82hVHSq">Kampung Madras</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36"><sup>36</sup></a> </p> Other countries <p>Thaipusam is also celebrated in other countries with significant people of Tamil origin like <a href="/facts/Fiji/JU8Hs8WH">Fiji</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:37" href="#fn:37"><sup>37</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Mauritius/lVUARna5">Mauritius</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:38" href="#fn:38"><sup>38</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Seychelles/Ub9we8XU">Seychelles</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:39" href="#fn:39"><sup>39</sup></a> <a href="/facts/South_Africa/vvXQpLgq">South Africa</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:40" href="#fn:40"><sup>40</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Canada/cWWFM8oc">Canada</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:41" href="#fn:41"><sup>41</sup></a> the <a href="/facts/Caribbean/zRI9aMCh">Caribbean</a> countries including <a href="/facts/Trinidad_and_Tobago/jTXQP4Fe">Trinidad and Tobago</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:42" href="#fn:42"><sup>42</sup></a> and countries with significant Indian migrants like the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:43" href="#fn:43"><sup>43</sup></a> It is a national holiday in Mauritius, and thousands of attendees take part in the ritual 'Cavadee' from Kovil Montagne.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:44" href="#fn:44"><sup>44</sup></a> <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:45" href="#fn:45"><sup>45</sup></a> In South Africa, Thaipusam Kavady is celebrated in <a href="/facts/Durban/ADRqGHGy">Durban</a>, and temples such as <a href="/facts/Clairwood_Shree_Siva_Soobramoniar_Temple/Vp9eX0Rm">Clairwood Shree Siva Soobramonior Temple</a> in <a href="/facts/Cape_Town/tFrIG1gz">Cape Town</a> and Shree Sivasubramaniar Alayam in Palm Ridge.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:46" href="#fn:46"><sup>46</sup></a> In Fiji, the festival is celebrated at Sri Siva Subrahmanya Swami Temple in <a href="/facts/Nadi/8jf3Pqt6">Nadi</a> town and at the Sri Raj Mahamariamman Temple in <a href="/facts/Suva/NCbULXd6">Suva</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:47" href="#fn:47"><sup>47</sup></a> In the United States, the festival is celebrated in various Hindu temples across the country.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:48" href="#fn:48"><sup>48</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Hinduism_in_Southeast_Asia/HHFEmtzM">Hinduism in Southeast Asia</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Roy, Christian (2005). Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 462-463. ISBN 978-1-8510-9689-3. <a href="978-1-8510-9689-3" target="_blank">978-1-8510-9689-3</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Dalal, Roshen (18 April 2014). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin. p. 1190. ISBN 978-8-1847-5277-9. <a href="978-8-1847-5277-9" target="_blank">978-8-1847-5277-9</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Civarāman̲, Akilā (2006). Sri Kandha Puranam. Giri Trading. p. 55. ISBN 978-8-1795-0397-3. <a href="978-8-1795-0397-3" target="_blank">978-8-1795-0397-3</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Civarāman̲, Akilā (2006). Sri Kandha Puranam. Giri Trading. p. 55. ISBN 978-8-1795-0397-3. <a href="978-8-1795-0397-3" target="_blank">978-8-1795-0397-3</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>T.K.R, Sridharan (2022). God and Science. Notion Press. ISBN 979-8-8870-4354-8. <a href="979-8-8870-4354-8" target="_blank">979-8-8870-4354-8</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Vanquishing the demon". The Hindu. 5 December 2005. Retrieved 1 November 2023. <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/vanquishing-the-demon/article30197138.ece" target="_blank">https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/vanquishing-the-demon/article30197138.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Civarāman̲, Akilā (2006). Sri Kandha Puranam. Giri Trading. p. 55. ISBN 978-8-1795-0397-3. <a href="978-8-1795-0397-3" target="_blank">978-8-1795-0397-3</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Chwalkowski, Farrin (14 December 2016). Symbols in Arts, Religion and Culture: The Soul of Nature. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 476. ISBN 978-1-4438-5728-4. <a href="978-1-4438-5728-4" target="_blank">978-1-4438-5728-4</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Juergensmeyer, Mark; Roof, Wade Clark (2012). Encyclopedia of Global Religion. SAGE. p. 1267. ISBN 978-0-7619-2729-7. <a href="978-0-7619-2729-7" target="_blank">978-0-7619-2729-7</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Kesavapany, K. (August 2003). Rising India and Indian Communities in East Asia. Flipside Digital Content Company. p. 349. ISBN 978-9-8145-1760-7. <a href="978-9-8145-1760-7" target="_blank">978-9-8145-1760-7</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Roy, Christian (2005). Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 462-463. ISBN 978-1-8510-9689-3. <a href="978-1-8510-9689-3" target="_blank">978-1-8510-9689-3</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Kent, Alexandra (2005). Divinity and Diversity: A Hindu Revitalization Movement in Malaysia. University of Hawaii Press. p. 170-174. ISBN 978-8-7911-1489-2. <a href="978-8-7911-1489-2" target="_blank">978-8-7911-1489-2</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Jaime Koh; Lee-Ling Ho (2009). Culture and Customs of Singapore and Malaysia. ABC-CLIO. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-3133-5116-7. <a href="978-0-3133-5116-7" target="_blank">978-0-3133-5116-7</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Roy, Christian (2005). Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 462-463. ISBN 978-1-8510-9689-3. <a href="978-1-8510-9689-3" target="_blank">978-1-8510-9689-3</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Gregory Leong (1992). Festivals of Malaysia. University of Michigan. p. 10. ISBN 978-9-6797-8388-9. <a href="978-9-6797-8388-9" target="_blank">978-9-6797-8388-9</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Hume, Lynne (2020). Portals: Opening Doorways to Other Realities Through the Senses. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-0001-8987-2. <a href="978-1-0001-8987-2" target="_blank">978-1-0001-8987-2</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Kent, Alexandra (2005). Divinity and Diversity: A Hindu Revitalization Movement in Malaysia. University of Hawaii Press. p. 170-174. ISBN 978-8-7911-1489-2. <a href="978-8-7911-1489-2" target="_blank">978-8-7911-1489-2</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Javier, A.G. (2014). They Do What: A Cultural Encyclopedia of Extraordinary and Exotic Customs from Around the World. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 387. ISBN 979-8-2161-5549-2. <a href="979-8-2161-5549-2" target="_blank">979-8-2161-5549-2</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Vadlamani, Laxmi Naresh; Gowda, Mahesh (2019). "Practical implications of Mental Healthcare Act 2017: Suicide and suicide attempt". Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 61 (Suppl 4). National library of medicine, United States: S750 – S755. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_116_19. PMC 6482674. PMID 31040468. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6482674" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6482674</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Javier, A.G. (2014). They Do What: A Cultural Encyclopedia of Extraordinary and Exotic Customs from Around the World. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 387. ISBN 979-8-2161-5549-2. <a href="979-8-2161-5549-2" target="_blank">979-8-2161-5549-2</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Javier, A.G. (2014). They Do What: A Cultural Encyclopedia of Extraordinary and Exotic Customs from Around the World. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 387. ISBN 979-8-2161-5549-2. <a href="979-8-2161-5549-2" target="_blank">979-8-2161-5549-2</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Williams, Victoria (2016). Celebrating Life Customs Around the World: From Baby Showers to Funerals. ABC-CLIO. p. 334. 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