Hindus Celebrate Thaipusam Festival In Singapore (PHOTOS)

For Hindu devotees, Thaipusam is a period of abstinence and fasting to cleanse their bodies of sin. Some carried enormous, decorative kavadis, complete with bodily piercings as a symbol of their sacrifice, while others carried the smaller milk pot.

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Comments

[Hindi Fun]

07:19 AM on 02/15/2012

Amazing Images.

[BlueZoo]

12:33 AM on 02/12/2012

I lived in Singapore for eight years and saw this festival many times. To understand it all, you need to actually see the reverential demeanor of these people. It is truly a strong belief in a deity that we may not understand. In centuries past, there was self-flagellation and even that is practiced today by different sects of different religions. I am an agnostic but I found these Hindu practices inspiring. Just because someone is different than we are or believes differently does not mean they are wrong. How I wish we could celebrate our differences!

[iLdoRight]

12:46 AM on 02/11/2012

Does this not prove this religion is more special than "true" Christianity? How could this person have become more "Special" in following the "do no harm" recommendation of Matthew 10:16?

[AxisV]

03:05 PM on 02/10/2012

I don't find self-flagellation and self mutilation of any kind beautiful or something to be praised.

[Tenjikuronin]

08:11 PM on 02/11/2012

Hope you never visit a tattoo parlor...

[AxisV]

09:32 PM on 02/11/2012

I find tattoos grotesque. So, no.

[FedUpIndian]

02:35 PM on 02/12/2012

Axis, For once, you and I can agree on something. This self-mutilation is nuts and needs to be discouraged even if these people are only hurting themselves.

[Tenjikuronin]

05:55 PM on 02/12/2012

DIscouraged? Why?

Do you also call for an end to tattoo parlors, piercing pagodas and augmentation clinics?

Same principle applies.

[nikkitytom]

05:37 AM on 02/10/2012

I joined in this procession in Mauritius many years ago. At first I was merely a fascinated observer, then I joined the procession. As we marched throught the streets,, people ran out of their homes with pails of water to keep the searing hot pavement under our feet cool. I saw a beautiful teenage girl with a spike through her tongue being helped by her boyfriend when she stumbled under the weight of the decorated arch she carried, The smile she gave him was a teenage girl's in spite of her horrendous piercing.

I was told that sometimes people promised so many "kavadees" if a boon was granted by God, If a child survived a sickness or an accident was averted forexample.

The marchers carried pots of milk tied to the arches.and as they chanted and danced, the milk jostled in the containers. When we reached the temple, if the milk remained uncurdled, they believed Lord Murugan had accepted their offering of pain,

As I cupped my hand to accept a few drops of the milk to taste it ... I felt deeply moved. I nodded to the devotee to tell him it was sweet. And he smiled through his spiked cheeks.

To an outsider, the ceremony may seem bizarre, To me it was intensely moving. i offer my music and flowers to God, others offer a sacrifice of pain. It is all sacred.

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

09:03 AM on 02/09/2012

Come on now, how can anyone look at these pictures and not think that religion drives people insane.

[Tenjikuronin]

06:18 PM on 02/09/2012

Nothing insane about it. Those pictures are awesome!

[sandalwood]

08:06 PM on 02/09/2012

Some people like to travel, learn new things and expand their horizons, while others get flustered when what they see doesn't remind them of Wal-Mart. :-)

[sandalwood]

08:08 PM on 02/09/2012

Here's more... its just a partial list though:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals

[PATOISJAM]

08:14 AM on 02/09/2012

This practice defies commonsense. Only demonic gods could require people to do this type of stuff to themselves.

[Chitral]

01:00 PM on 02/09/2012

There are christian zealots/priests who live alone in the caves in the Negev desert and they self-flagellate all day with some really nasty implements. So using your logic should we call Christianity a demonic religion ? A learned man knows to differentiate between ignorance of people and their misinterpretation of religion/god and the religion itself.

[PATOISJAM]

03:20 PM on 02/09/2012

You got it! They are demonic too.

[PATOISJAM]

03:38 PM on 02/09/2012

You don't find it curious that so-called Christians and pagans are involved in the same kinds of barbaric behavior? Well, that is because they have the same god - Satan the Devil. Violence and immorality - these are his footprints.

[DoesItMatter]

03:04 PM on 02/09/2012

The gods do not 'require' these 'stuff'. It is the people who do these 'stuff'.

[PATOISJAM]

03:36 PM on 02/09/2012

Well you have it part right for humans do not have to act like barbarians so yes they have to take responsibility for their actions. When people commit atrocities in the name of the religion, they should not get away without consequences.

Behavior such as this is worship given to demons. So the demons have a part as well in these barbaric behavior. Unlike us though, demons have already been judged as being guilty for their despicable involvementment with humans and they are just awaiting for sentence to be enforce.

It is little wonder that they involve humans in behaviors that are detestable to the true God. Just stick around, you will see humans sink to such a depravity you will wonder if they are humans capable to reasoning or just animals.

By their works you will know them.

[sandalwood]

04:56 PM on 02/08/2012

Wow. Great pics...

[maria52]

12:45 AM on 02/12/2012

Yes, can't we at least appreciate the pictures for study of a culture? Gosh, you don't have to share the belief system. You might want to study it though, without automatically judging it.

[sandalwood]

10:37 AM on 02/12/2012

Agreed. The world is a wonderous place, far bigger than any individual could hope to encompass within their own limited set of beliefs and experiences.

Here is a good film which speaks on the underlying philosophy of these very numerous ways to relate to the ineffable, in the Hindu tradition: http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/india_and_the_infinite_the_soul_of_a_people

[ILoveTheUSofA]

03:00 PM on 02/08/2012

Tell ya what - I'll carry the teaspoon. - Come on, someone has to carry it!

[SoldAmerican]

01:47 PM on 02/08/2012

This is so much like the Catholic procession around the Italian neighbourhoods of NY of the yesteryears. Not sure if they still do it.