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Thaipusam is an Indian religious festival in Penang. It falls sometime in January or February and is a public holiday in Penang. It is celebrated mostly by people of Indian race in Penang for three days. On the first day, the day before Thaipusam or the chariot procession day, many devotees will carry kavadis and statue of Lord Muruga will be taken from Penang Street to Jalan Kebun Bunga or Waterfall Road. The Statue of Lord Muruga will be left in Nattukkottai : Chettiars' Temple until the third day but the kavadis' barrier will walk up to Kuil Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani. On Thaipusam day, many devotees can be seen carrying kavadis too. On the third day, the day after thaipusam, it will be taken back to Penang Street.

During this time devotees will fulfill their vows made to Lord Muruga for curing their sickness for example. The devotees will have to go on a vegetarian diet for a few days before carrying the kavadis. Some will throw / smash coconuts on the road mostly when the chariot passes their area, some carry milk pots on their heads, some carrying and pulling kavadis.

The route of the Procession starts from Penang Street to Chulia Street to Victoria Street to Gat Jalan Prangin to Lebuh C.Y.Choy to Jalan Magazine to Jalan Dato Keramat to Jalan Utama to Kuil Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani along Jalan Kebun Bunga (Waterfall Road). Along these roads, you can see people carrying different types of kavadi. There will be many people who buy coconuts to throw them on the roads where Lord Murugan passes. Many stalls will be by the road side of Waterfall Road until the temple. For those who like to try Indian snacks, there will be many Indian snacks stalls selling Laddu / Bundi, Artesem, Jelebi, Chitmuruku, Nei urundei, nuts, Bolda and candies during this time. The route back to Penang Street is different. From Jalan Kebun Bunga, it will turn into Jalan Gotlieb and the right turn into Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. It will turn right into Cantonment Road and then left into Jalan Macalister.

This time I show photos of the three days together. In fact, the first left row photo shows the night before the chariot procession at Penang Street. The right first row photo shows a drawing in front a booth. The left second row photo shows the chariot almost reaching Chettiars' Temple on the eve of Thaipusam. The right second row photo shows a man carrying a heavy kavadi on Thaipusam day. Actually, there were many people carrying kavadis and throwing coconuts during the three days.

The other six photos were taken on the day after Thaipusam, before the statue of Lord Muruga was seated in the chariot (left third row photo) and also after it was seated (left forth row photo). The right third row photo shows the band that accompanied the occasion when the statue of Lord Muruga was moving from the temple out onto the chariot. The right forth row photo shows the cow that pulled the chariot. The cows just pulled for a few steps before allowing the devotees to start making offering(left last row photo). Before the chariot reaches the place where devotees put their pile of coconuts, the devotees will smash coconuts (right last row photo).

Lastly, let me tell you a little story about Lord Murugan. Actually, someone from Ayer Itam Hindu temple told me about the story. It goes something like this. Lord Murugan as what he is called during Thaipusam is one of his names. His other popular name is Subramaniam. When he was young, his parents said to him and his brother, Lord Ganesha they would give a fruit of knowledge to whoever that could go round the universe first. So, Lord Murugan quickly got on his magical vehicle, the peacock and flew out into the sky. On the other hand, Lord Ganesha who was slow and heavy just walk round his parents. When his parents ask him why he did that, he said that they were his universe. So, his father gave him the fruit. When Lord Murugan came back, he was angry to see his brother having the fruit. He had a quarrel with his parents and said that he would never return home. So, he went off to live in a mountain. This was how and when he got his name, Murugan. Subramaniam was his name when he settled down. Coming back to the story, Lord Murugan's parents persuaded him to go back home but he refused. One day, his mother went to him and gave him the vel (spear), a very powerful weapon to ask him to go back home.

Thaipusam is made up of 2 words. Thai is a month, the 10th in the Indian lunar calendar. Pusam refers to a star that is at the highest point in that month. It was this day that his mother gave him the vel. I guess Lord Murugan went to become a mighty warrior after that and saved a lot of people.

Coming event : next year
Devotees queue-up for prayers
Devotees queue-up for prayers
Drawings on the ground
Drawings on the ground
Devotees make offerings for prayers
Devotees make offerings for prayers
Devotees carrying heavy kavadi
Devotees carrying heavy kavadi
Statue of Lord Muruga going to chariot
Statue of Lord Muruga going to chariot
Band accompanying going to chariot occasion
Band accompanying going to chariot occasion
Prayers before moving chariot
Prayers before moving chariot
Cows pulling chariot
Cows pulling chariot
Devotees make offerings for prayers
Devotees make offerings for prayers
Breaking coconuts
Breaking coconuts
Past event
29-Jan-2010 : Chariot procession starts
30-Jan-2010 : Thaipusam Day
31-Jan-2010 : Chariot returns to Penang Street
07-Feb-2009 : Statue of Lord Muruga moving from Chettiars' Building, stayed for 2 nights at Chettiars' Temple and returned to Chettiars' Building on 09-Feb-2009.
22nd January 2008 : Thaipusam Preparation for Statue of Lord Muruga procession from Chettiars' Building at Penang Street to Nattukkottai : Chettiars' Temple along Jalan Kebun Bunga (Waterfall Road).
23rd January 2008 : Thaipusam Day Procession for kavadi procession.

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