Malaysia, Singapore Hindus celebrate first post-pandemic Thaipusam with fanfare
- Seeking spiritual aid from the god of war and fertility, devotees balance brass pots on their heads, pierce their bodies, and carry decorated wooden ‘kavadis’
- The festival is not a major event in Tamil Nadu but remains a highlight of Singapore’s and Malaysia’s cultural calendar and is appreciated by non-Hindus
The annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam, traditionally celebrated with great fanfare by the minority Tamil communities of Malaysia and Singapore, returned in full form on Sunday after two years of pandemic restrictions.
Seeking spiritual aid from Lord Murugan, the god of war and fertility, the displays of piety by devotees taking part in the festival range from balancing brass pots of milk or ‘paal kudam’ on their heads, piercing their bodies with hooks and skewers and carrying wooden structures called ‘kavadis’ decorated with peacock feather and spears.
In Malaysia, authorities said they expected 1.6 million people to visit Lord Murugan’s limestone cave temple in Batu Caves, outside Kuala Lumpur. Apart from Batu Caves, Thaipusam is commemorated across the country with major processions held in temples in Johor and Penang as well.
In Singapore, thousands of people gathered to witness the devotees walking a 3.2km route between two major Lord Murugan temples.
The festival, introduced to the Southeast Asian neighbours during the colonial era by Tamil migrants working on rubber estates, is not a major event in Tamil Nadu but remains a highlight of Singapore and Malaysia’s cultural calendar.
