Thai Pusam 2006

Every year, Thai Pusam would be celebrated with more awareness in Singapore & Malaysia (Penang). In India, I believe - only the traditional Pusam goers will be aware of that and only certain belts follow the walks upto Palani.

Thai Pusam is observed on the full moon day of the Tamil Month Thai (Jan-Feb). This time it was on Saturday 11-Feb-06. Being a Saturday, the roads from Serangoon Road to Tank Road were full of devotees. The estimated arrivals to the Murugan (Sri Thendayuthapani) temple at Tank road, would have touched 20000 people. That's my guess.

The 'Paal Kudam' (Milk Pots) and 'Kavadi's which started to arrive @ 00.00 hrs on 11-Feb (Friday midnight) ended at 2.00 hrs on 12-Feb (Saturday midnight). Even on Friday evening, the temple was crowded a lot.

The following has been mentioned in the brochures issued for Thai Pusam, by the temple.

"There are many types of offerings made to Lord Muruga. But carrying Kavadi is considered the best offering. The practice of carrying Kavadi is explained in the Puranas. The great saint Agastya, while at Mount Pothikai, instructed one of his disciples, Idumban to bring two hills, Sivagiri and Shaktigiri, from Mount Kailai Range. Having arrived at the Mount Kailai, Idumban picked up both the hills, tied them at both ends of a long pole and carried them across his shoulders.

However, Lord Muruga had intended that the two hills be placed at Thiruvavinankudi (Palani). At the same time he wanted to test the devotion and tenacity of the purpose of Idumban. After placing the two hills at Thiruvavinankudi, Idumbam rested for a while. When he tried to carry the two hills again he found that he could not do so. The perplexed Idumbam looked up and saw a child in loin clothes standing one of the hills, who claimed that the hills belonged to him.

The furious Idumban then attempted to attack the child but found himself falling like an uprooted tree, which made Idumban's wife & saint Agastya to appeal to the child (Lord Muruga) to spare Idumban. Lord Muruga was pleased with Idumban's devotion to his guru Agastya and his mission and thus made Idumban his guardian.

After that, it is believed that those who bring sandal, milk, flowers etc., in a Kavadi to His shrine, like Idumban who had brought the hills carrying across his shoulders, will be blessed by him"



Am sharing some of the pictures taken on this Saturday.




Entrance of the temple, crowded with Devotees
















'Paal Kudam' (Milk Pots) & 'Kavadi's during the morning session











'Spike Kavadi's which are famous here. Heard that Penang also receives so many devotees like this.


Two of the many westeners who visited the temple on that day...
The devotees crowded at the entrance outside the temple...
and inside the temple...
Another spike kavadi..












Evening crowd....
















Looks like some North Indians... [Even Chinese carry Kavadis and visit the temple on this day. I missed to capture a pic]











The arrival of final Kavadis... Saturday midnight.

















One more... in the night.
















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