Lord Murugan

The way from Pj to Wangsa Maju, I was forgotten suppose not taking LDP highway to my destination, the far way still to reach for my place, however, cars on the road was not moving toward in normally, everyone get stuck after 10 minute from toll. Thereby, the only time I remember today is Thaipusam, you will hard to out from Batu Cave to move forward.

2 hours have some my vehicle were only move 1km probably, Batu Cave even not passed by yet, just nearby, I saw the thousand and thousand peoples, the great lights shined to every corner, Lord Murugan very attraction, devotee taking every crowded steps on stairs from far view, the traditional music played. At last, I had gave up on the jam, found an entries, risk area on parked, went down first step, the sound came on beside "ah zai! Jangan park sini, orang mau buat business juga" on replied "Sekejap saja bos, 5 minute, angkat barang bagi orang je" (This is not true as the case stands). Now lomo camera on hand for make sure, then took my big foot steps moved quickly to termini.

Almost pictures was taken in lomo camera, a very risk screen to had my pictures done which needed always close up to objects, I can't did these all the time where many thousand of visitors over inside crowding together, still quite looking forward how would it be in those pictures came out like, was sent to scan, at the moment lefting only 20 something film, hope it would be all right. Alone for the time, nevertheless I'm still enjoyable the see and view of screen over this place, were not been on night before, had once on day in 3 years back. Thanks, I'm Malaysian.


(Cellphone photos)

The birth of Lord Murugan also called Subramaniam, Skanda or Karthikeya, the Tamil god of war and youngest son of the Hindu gods Shiva and Parvatithe victory of Murugan over the evil demon Soorapadman.

The Meaning of the Thaipusam Festival

The Tamil word pusam refers to a star that is at its highest position during the festival. Because it is celebrated in the month of Thai, the festival is called Thaipusam. Its origin goes back to the legend of the demon (rakshasa) Soorapadman or Soorapadme who was protected against death from the hands of mortals and deities alike. Because he felt invincible, he soon started tormenting those he deemed weak.

Thus provoked, Shiva created a new deity – Lord Murugan – to bypass Soorapadman’s protection. Parvati, Shiva’s cohort, gave Murugan a spear (vel) so he could go out and fight Soorapadman. The demon, sensing defeat, turned himself into a tree but to no avail. Murugan split the tree with his vel in half, after which one half transformed itself into a flag and the other into a peacock. Murugan ordered the latter to embed itself onto the flag and used it thereafter as his battle standard.

Lord Murugan, as the universal granter of wishes, is often approached by students hoping for good exam results or someone wishing for the good health of a sick friend or family member. There is a catch, however. Every devotee wishing for something takes a vow to participate in the Thaipusam if his or her wish has been granted. Not honoring this vow is considered bad luck. Many devotees also participate because they want to repent for past sins or generally reaffirm the strength of their faith. They will be giving out water to devotees or providing first aid and other services, preparing special food (annadanam), usually daal (lentils) and rice or a vegetarian curry, carrying a “burden” called kavadi or kavathi.

On the day of the festival, Lord Murugan’s idol is carried from one Karthikeya temple to another, which may be kilometers apart. Devotees (even children) shave their heads (or facial hair) as a sign of penance before joining the procession. The kavadi attam is a popular kavadi dance performed by everyone in honor of Murugan, the Lord of Dance. Thaipusam is a family affair and supporting a kavadi bearer is every family’s duty and honor.

What are the different kavadis?

• A pot of milk carried on the head;
• A small spear pierced through the tongue to symbolize the vow of silence
• A metal rod pierced through the mouth (up to one meter long), signifying that the devotee has denounced the gift of speech temporarily and channeled his or her energy toward god;
• Hooking smaller burdens like lemons, oranges or coconuts into one’s flesh (on the chest or back)
• Bigger hooks attached to a devotee’s back and used to pull a cart;
• A portable altar of around 15 kg that is placed on a devotee’s shoulders and secured with metal rods to back and chest.

Article reference:
http://hinduism.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_tamil_thaipusam_festival

It's called Thaipusam