Thaipusam Festival In Malaysia 2022

by Astro Ved Online Astrology Consultation

Thai Poosam will happen on 18th January 2022 this year. It is dedicated to Lord Muruga, the Hindu God, which is majorly celebrated and worshipped by Tamilians. Hence people living in South India worship Murugan as their prime deity. Tamilians living outside of India, such as in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other countries, also celebrate Thai Poosam since this is an important event for the devotees of Muruga.

 

Story of Vel

 

Thai Poosam is a day on which the devotees remember Goddess Parvati’s gift to his son Muruga, the Vel. Lord Muruga was born to kill the demon Soorapadman, who had a boon to be killed only by Lord Shiva’s son. Muruga got on the battlefield with the demon, and the war went on for many days. The destruction of the evil was getting difficult since Soorapadman was a very powerful demon. 

 

Goddess Parvathi then bestowed his son with the Vel, a Godly and most powerful weapon. Muruga used the powerful weapon for the destruction of the demon, and it worked like a charm. Since then, Vel has been considered the most powerful and divine weapon that is particularly worshipped other than Lord Muruga. Muruga killed the demon and restored the balance in nature, freeing the Devas from the chaos of the demon and his army. Muruga is also known by different names such as Skanda, Shanmugha, Arumugha, and Subramanya. 

 

Thai Poosam in Malaysia

 

Many Tamilians reside outside India too, and Malaysia is another destination for them. Tamil Hindus here celebrate the festival with the same fervor and enthusiasm. When is Thai Poosam  arrives in the Thai month as per the Tamil calendar, which is the period between January and February; the exact date depends on the full moon.

 

There are some famous temples where the celebration happens on a grand level, such as Sri Subramanian Swamy Temple, Kuala Lumpur, the Balathan¬dayuthapani Temple, or Waterfall Hill Temple located in Penang. There are many other temples, too, where the Tamil crowd visits and worships their dear Muruga while remembering the legend.

 

Thai Poosam is a significant and big festival where the celebration goes on for ten days. It is as significant as Diwali in North India. Poosam is also considered a day of thanksgiving, and in Malaysia, a public holiday is given too.

 

Devotees observe fast to cleanse their body and mind. They observe their mind in Muruga to cut the cycle of karmas and to get closer to salvation. People pray to Muruga for his grace and to bestow them with power and courage to fight against the odds of life.

 

They observe the fast while only consuming fast-friendly foods and refraining from any immoral activities and non-vegetarian food. Many people can also be seen carrying the kavadi on their shoulders. This kavadi is a structure that carries the images of several deities, including Murugan.

 

Celebrations at Batu Caves

 

Batu Caves is one of the most visited places in the day of Thai Poosam. This is because the ultimate beauty of this place attracts visitors from other countries as well. Thousands of visitors come here to witness the beauty of the place and the huge idol of Lord Shiva. 

 

Tamil Hindus are the major people in the crowd; they gather at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in the Chinatown/Petaling Street area. From here, they take a 15 km walk to the Batu Caves, which takes them about 8 hours. They also have to take 272 steps to reach the entrance of the cave. Since s is a cave, a large crowd makes the whole situation claustrophobic.

 

Many older people are carried by their relatives; some people get their heads shaved as it is considered auspicious. Some devotees also get their skin, cheeks, and even tongue pierced and hang a vel there. This becomes interesting to witness the devotion of people toward Lord Muruga.

 

During the whole journey, devotees keep chanting “vel vel shakti vel.” Some devotees dance and lose their sense of the world around them. They get mesmerized by the vibe of the place, and the holiness can be felt everywhere. In rare cases, when the place gets too crowded, devotees are suspended in mid-air by hooks. It is a belief that Lord Muruga ensures that his devotees do not feel any pain. People can also be seen carrying heavy objects with sharp hooks, attaching them to their bodies.

 

This is also a tourist destination where people visit to witness the beauty of the place and to have photoshoots. Near the area, there are many stalls for food and drinks where people satiate their hunger. There are also shops for the Souvenirs from where people can buy religious items and take them as a memory to their home. An amusement park is there too, which sets a perfect environment for the kids.

 

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Created on Dec 28th 2021 01:28. Viewed 78 times.

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