“A spiritually illumined soul lives in the world, yet is never contaminated by it.” -Swami Bhaskarananda
Thaipusam is a festival celebrated by Hindu Tamils coming together to show appreciation to one of their gods of War- Lord Murugan. This largely celebrated ceremony takes place annually during the full moon of the 10th month of the Hindu calendar (between January and February). Thousands of devotees make a pilgrimage to the temple at the Batu Caves, where a large golden statue of Lord Murugan stands, with offerings such as milk and flowers.
The jars of milk serve as a symbol of abundance and fertility in the Hindu faith. Many devotees undergo mortification of the flesh, piercing their cheeks/tongues with skewers and inserting hooks that hold fruit or jars of milk (kavadi) into their skin.
As they have mentally and physically prepared themselves for this occasion, during their pilgrimage they become consumed with prayer in which they enter into a trance making their acts of devotion painless. It was truly astonishing observing them in these trances as various groups walked by on their way to the temple.
While we were hesitant to attend not knowing if it would be appropriate as non Hindus, everyone was very welcoming to those of us who were just there to peacefully observe and learn. It was an experience unlike any other and truly unforgettable! Wow.
