Thaipusam - Bhakti in Action

Today is Thaipusam festival. From the wee hours of 22 Jan barefooted devotees and kavadi bearers started their walk with milk pots and kavadis from the temple at Perumal Temple to the temple at Tank Road. Thaipusam is Lord Murugan's birthday and the day he received the veil. To me thaipusam has transformed from being one of the most scary rituals (filled with body piercings) to one of the most powerful and profound acts of devotions to the Lord. As a little girl I found the event overwhelming - the trance that the people went into, the chanting, the singing and beating of drums and all the crush of the devotees inside the temple. But with greater spiritual maturity I have learnt to focus on the right things. The deep acts of devotion that this event demands. Many of the personal stories of sacrifice, penance and personal devotion that the kavadi bearers share with me is deeply moving.

My friend in this picture (top picture) has been taking kavadi for 16 years since the age of 18 years. Why? For his mom - who was unwell and he had taken a vow to God Murugan to take the kavadi for his mom's health. Beautiful acts of love and devotion evidenced by ordinary Hindus. Many stories like this abound among the 15,000 kavadai bearers who take the kavadi's today. Of course there is also a segment who does not really embody the spiritual essence of the festival and take it for "macho" reasons. But predominately I hear very moving stories about sacrifice and penance as a path to God realization.

If you are not an Hindu or you are a tourist in Singapore - please show some respect. Stop gawking at kavadi bearers and turning the event into a circus on Youtube. The "bizzare piercings" that many tourists describe in Youtube are to us Hindus evidence of deep bhakti or devotion. Only the most devout amongst Hindus are able to transcend the physical rigors demanded of this festival and withstand the multiple piercing on their bodies. We have deep respect for these kavadi bearers - many of whom have prepared themselves mentally and physically by fasting for months before the event. Celibacy is also a key part of the fasting/cleansing ritual. My mom said that many men would go and sleep in the temples at night as a way to avoid temptations of the flesh.

For those totting cameras again please show some respect. Many people who are in a trance-like state and shoving a camera up their face is deeply disrespectful. Ask for permission at the right time. Observe what the devotees are going through and absorb that energy. Similarly fighting with the devotees for a choice spot for your photography in the sacred temple grounds is uncool. The Hindus feel that seeing Lord Murugan and paying respect to him on this day is deeply important. The Hindus have not disallowed tourists into the temple as they are open and hospitable people. Don't take advantage of their kindness.


Check out a short clip I did - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3880795840673361580