thaipusam.
friends like to joke that i stay in a cave hole and that my best friends are bats and monkeys. little do they know that batu caves is also the common name of the area surrounding the famous cave. many many years ago before i was even born, it may be just the cave and jungles surrounding it. but there's a town now. yup, you heard me right.
during this time every year, folks staying in the area of batu caves will face massive traffic jams and closed roads due to thaipusam. this morn, while i was on the way to kl, passing by batu caves, i already saw many hindu devotees gathering and walking to batu caves already. some are barefoot. some men are shaved bald. but thaipusam is not until tomorrow. i have to admit that i do not know much about the festival really. but i have heard that during thaipusam, the hindus will bring one of the Gods to meet his lover. and i know that some of the devotees will have their body and tongues pierced with hooks and spears, carrying kavadis.
i am sure that i'd be fascinated by the colors and the devotion. i could take beautiful photographs. i have been to an indian temple near puduraya to take pictures for my photography class when i was still in university. i'd do it anytime again. i've met friendly indians. but i dont think it's such a good idea to go to batu caves now, especially with the recently placed giant statue right in front of the stairs. i am afraid of being crushed by the crowd. and the sight of some of the extreme piercings may leave disturbing thoughts to me as well. been watching too many movies with disturbing scenes and twists lately. cant take that much at a time. my heart need a rest.
so i googled and found out more about thaipusam. this festival combines the celebration of Lord Subramaniam (also known as Lord Muruga), the youngest son of Hindu god Shiva and the union of Pusan and Brihaspati stars. this festival of faith and endurance is celebrated in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, and South Africa. about a month before thaipusam, devotees start their fasting in order to cleanse themselves.
on the eve of the festival (which is today 10/2/06), at the Mariamman Temple, devotees adorn the statue of Lord Subramaniam with precious stones and jewelry. then the statue and the statues of his consorts, Valli and Theivanai are placed on a chariot that will be drawn by bullocks. the chariot itself is decorated with flags, gold and silver tinsel, streamers, flowers and statues of other deities and animals. the chariot is then drawn from the temple in Jalan Bandar (somewhere near Petaling St.) to Batu Caves. devotees who join the procession often chant vel-vel. vel is a power lance that was given to Lord Subramaniam by his mother, Parvati on his birthday. upon reaching the foot of the caves, the statue is lifted and carried up the 272 steps and placed in the temple inside the caves.
the next day, thousands upon thousands of devotees and tourists show up for the procession of the kavadi. traditionally, a kavadi is a Tamil word that describes anything that can be suspended from a pole. now it has taken to mean a semi-circular structure that is decorated with flowers, peacock feathers and palm leaves. it usually bears a Vel, to represent Lord Subramaniam’s lance. a popular form of penance is to carry the kavadi. these kavadi bearers are first put into a trance before sharp skewers are thrust into their tongues through the cheeks. then hooks and spears are pierced on parts their bodies. sometimes strings are attached to the kavadi from the hooks. offerings of fruit, milk and jaggery (syrup) are placed on each kavadi and the kavadi goes on the shoulder or head of the kavadi bearer.
these kavadi bearers dance around in a frenzied trance like state. during this procession, the devotees chant vel -vel or Arohara. Aro is the shortened version of the word arogam which means blissful, and Hara is another name for Lord Siva (father to Lord Subramaniam). so Arohara means blissful Siva. devotees say it is not the size of the kavadi that matters. rather, it is the act itself and being able to carry the kavadi and offer it to Lord Subramaniam is what counts. the devotee must carry the kavadi up the steep steps, this after walking so many miles (frm petaling st. to batu caves) is another amazing feat. once in the caves, the kavadi is offered to Lord Subramaniam and the milk is poured out. this act of pouring out the milk is accompanied by the pouring out of love from the heart, thereby cleansing the devotee’s sins.
meaningful isnt it.
during this time every year, folks staying in the area of batu caves will face massive traffic jams and closed roads due to thaipusam. this morn, while i was on the way to kl, passing by batu caves, i already saw many hindu devotees gathering and walking to batu caves already. some are barefoot. some men are shaved bald. but thaipusam is not until tomorrow. i have to admit that i do not know much about the festival really. but i have heard that during thaipusam, the hindus will bring one of the Gods to meet his lover. and i know that some of the devotees will have their body and tongues pierced with hooks and spears, carrying kavadis.
i am sure that i'd be fascinated by the colors and the devotion. i could take beautiful photographs. i have been to an indian temple near puduraya to take pictures for my photography class when i was still in university. i'd do it anytime again. i've met friendly indians. but i dont think it's such a good idea to go to batu caves now, especially with the recently placed giant statue right in front of the stairs. i am afraid of being crushed by the crowd. and the sight of some of the extreme piercings may leave disturbing thoughts to me as well. been watching too many movies with disturbing scenes and twists lately. cant take that much at a time. my heart need a rest.
so i googled and found out more about thaipusam. this festival combines the celebration of Lord Subramaniam (also known as Lord Muruga), the youngest son of Hindu god Shiva and the union of Pusan and Brihaspati stars. this festival of faith and endurance is celebrated in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, and South Africa. about a month before thaipusam, devotees start their fasting in order to cleanse themselves.
on the eve of the festival (which is today 10/2/06), at the Mariamman Temple, devotees adorn the statue of Lord Subramaniam with precious stones and jewelry. then the statue and the statues of his consorts, Valli and Theivanai are placed on a chariot that will be drawn by bullocks. the chariot itself is decorated with flags, gold and silver tinsel, streamers, flowers and statues of other deities and animals. the chariot is then drawn from the temple in Jalan Bandar (somewhere near Petaling St.) to Batu Caves. devotees who join the procession often chant vel-vel. vel is a power lance that was given to Lord Subramaniam by his mother, Parvati on his birthday. upon reaching the foot of the caves, the statue is lifted and carried up the 272 steps and placed in the temple inside the caves.
the next day, thousands upon thousands of devotees and tourists show up for the procession of the kavadi. traditionally, a kavadi is a Tamil word that describes anything that can be suspended from a pole. now it has taken to mean a semi-circular structure that is decorated with flowers, peacock feathers and palm leaves. it usually bears a Vel, to represent Lord Subramaniam’s lance. a popular form of penance is to carry the kavadi. these kavadi bearers are first put into a trance before sharp skewers are thrust into their tongues through the cheeks. then hooks and spears are pierced on parts their bodies. sometimes strings are attached to the kavadi from the hooks. offerings of fruit, milk and jaggery (syrup) are placed on each kavadi and the kavadi goes on the shoulder or head of the kavadi bearer.
these kavadi bearers dance around in a frenzied trance like state. during this procession, the devotees chant vel -vel or Arohara. Aro is the shortened version of the word arogam which means blissful, and Hara is another name for Lord Siva (father to Lord Subramaniam). so Arohara means blissful Siva. devotees say it is not the size of the kavadi that matters. rather, it is the act itself and being able to carry the kavadi and offer it to Lord Subramaniam is what counts. the devotee must carry the kavadi up the steep steps, this after walking so many miles (frm petaling st. to batu caves) is another amazing feat. once in the caves, the kavadi is offered to Lord Subramaniam and the milk is poured out. this act of pouring out the milk is accompanied by the pouring out of love from the heart, thereby cleansing the devotee’s sins.
meaningful isnt it.
posted by ChristinE at 2/10/2006 10:24:00 AM
3 Comments:
haha gud job..i've stayed in malaysia for 22 years and i admit i know nothing bout thaipusam..thanx for enlightening me...
haha..malaysian konon =P org southampton la lu..ahahhah
ahahhah..can i pls shoot myself? jouleous, i looked up all tos info cuz i wanted to knoe wat's thaipusam all about. its such a huge thing that it's causing traffic jams for 4 blardy days!! ppl juz double parked on the highway for crying out loud!!! have a heart ppl! me juz wanna go home on a smooth ride =(
you knoe, i actually saw a 50 yr-old half-lited ferris wheel and other rides as well in the compound. but they look really antique and dangerous to me. thaipusam is really not juz about praying only. they're kinda having a party dere as well. pasar malam stalls were also set up by the roadside. trust me, it is a HUGE celebration.
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