• Photo.
  • Curated Work.
  • Tales.
    • 3 Days In Venice.
    • Travel.
  • Hey.

kathleen.

  • Photo.
  • Curated Work.
  • Tales.
    • 3 Days In Venice.
    • Travel.
  • Hey.

Thaipusam

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival, celebrated by our Tamil community here. Over here, the ceremony starts in the early hours of the morning where devotees fulfill their vows with a 4.5 km walk from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple along Serangoon Road to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple on Tank Road.

Devotees carry Kavadi, which consists of two semicircular pieces of wood or steel which are attached to a cross structure that can be balanced on the shoulders of a devotee. It is usually decorated with flowers, palm leaves and peacock feathers.

Devotees carrying spiked Kavadis, which require elaborate preparations, leave the temple in the later part of the morning and continue till night. The devotees are usually accompanied by family members and friends supporting in the form of prayers and chants.

So that was where I was 2 days ago, at Tank Road to document down the moment as devotees entered the temple at Tank Road and then eventually arriving at a huge tent set up nearby, where the dismantling will take place. 

It was my first time being on location looking at the celebration. It was indeed an eye-opener for me. I'm so glad and consider myself very lucky to grow up being surrounded by so many different cultures. It is not something I take for granted.

For this series, I decided to present it in a slideshow format in the event any one reading this may feel uncomfortable looking at some parts of the celebration.

 

DX7A4276.jpg
 A devotee walking towards the Kavadi dismantling area.

A devotee walking towards the Kavadi dismantling area.

DX7A4016.jpg
DX7A4008.jpg
DX7A4021.jpg
DX7A4027.jpg
DX7A4041.jpg
DX7A4019.jpg
DX7A4047.jpg
DX7A4048.jpg
DX7A4058.jpg
DX7A4063.jpg
DX7A4065.jpg
DX7A4064.jpg
DX7A4070.jpg
DX7A4121.jpg
 Devotees entering and exiting the temple.

Devotees entering and exiting the temple.

DX7A4007.jpg
DX7A4276.jpg  A devotee walking towards the Kavadi dismantling area. DX7A4016.jpg DX7A4008.jpg DX7A4021.jpg DX7A4027.jpg DX7A4041.jpg DX7A4019.jpg DX7A4047.jpg DX7A4048.jpg DX7A4058.jpg DX7A4063.jpg DX7A4065.jpg DX7A4064.jpg DX7A4070.jpg DX7A4121.jpg  Devotees entering and exiting the temple. DX7A4007.jpg
tags: Thaipusam, Singapore
categories: travel
Thursday 02.05.15
Posted by kathleen.
Comments: 2
 

Powered by Squarespace.