Thaipusam is a significant festival celebrated by the Tamil Hindu community in South India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and other parts of the world where Tamil diaspora is present. It falls on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February), and it’s dedicated to Lord Murugan, also known as Kartikeya, the Hindu god of war.

The festival commemorates the occasion when Goddess Parvati, mother of Lord Murugan, gave him a powerful lance (vel) to defeat the evil demon Soorapadman. The term ‘Thaipusam’ is a combination of the name of the month, Thai, and the name of a star, Pusam, which is at its highest point during the festival.

Thaipusam is known for its rituals of penance, devotion, and thanksgiving, which often involve acts of physical endurance. Devotees prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting. On the day of Thaipusam, many devotees undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). Some pierce their bodies with skewers and hooks as they enter a trance-like state in an act of penance and devotion.

The most famous Thaipusam celebrations take place at the Batu Caves in Malaysia, where devotees climb 272 steps to reach the temple at the top, often carrying heavy kavadis.

Despite the extreme rituals, the festival is a joyous one with much singing, drumming, and dancing, as the devotees are joined by family members and friends along the procession route.