Thaipusam

Thaipusam is celebrated by the Hindu community in Singapore, Malaysia, Southern India and Sri Lanka.This festival commermorates the devotion of Idumban, a devotee of Lord Subramaniam, who received great burden of offerings to pay homage to his deity. Today, it is believed that any devotee carrying a kavadi in fulfillment of vows will have their wishes granted.

In order to prepare for the procession, the devotee has to be a strict vegetarians, offer prayer and observing austerities for a month before the festival. The procession will begin from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Little India to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road about 3km route.

Before the procession, there will be a ritual and prayer and friends and relative gather to offer their blessing. It takes quite awhile to prepare the kavadi. The devotee will carry it through out the journey. These kavadi range from simple wooden ones to more elborately decorated 'Alagu Kavadi' with metal skewers anchored on various parts of the devotees' bodies.Teenagers usually carry simple wooden one while the woman will carry pot of milk over the head.

Upon completing the walk, devotees will offer pots of milk on the trident of their deity. The kavadis are then carefully removed. The end of the Thaipusam is marked by a three-day fasting .