babies have their heads shaved
the man has a walking stick, he must be walking on nails
arriving at the final temple in a trance, and severe pain
a kavadis milk pot
lost of food and drink for everyone to eat
onlookers are happily allowed - Mummy & Daddy a little shocked!
through his cheeks and tongue
limes hooked on
the framework supported by the belt, bells hooked to his thighs
shoes of nails
Thaipusan is a Hindu festival that takes place only in Singapore and Malaysia as it is now banned everywhere else.
The Thaipusan (also Thaipusam) Festival is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Murugan.The festival is celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan/Feb).
Kavadi literally means burden. The burden however can take many forms. A kavadi can be something as simple as pot of milk (paal kudam) carried on the head to be given as an offering to Murugan. Many kavadi are a simple wooden arch that has been decorated. The large kavadis can weigh close to 40 kilos. They are often decorated with peacock feathers and have a picture of Murugan on them. They are in fact miniature shrines. What sets these shrines apart however is that they are anchored to the body with a metal belt. Hanging down from the kavadis are chains with hooks at the end. The hooks are inserted into the body. Some may have steel poles coming down that pierce the body. At the extreme are those that are pulling a cart behind them with ropes attached to the hooks in their back.
some of them also walk with wooden shoes with nails sticking up.
They make their pilgrimage by walking with family and friends from the first temple to the final temple where they are able to remove their Kavadis
It looks very revolting, but it was quite fascinating.
They also shave the babies heads as their penance.
