Devotion and Penance: A Guide to Thaipusam in Singapore
Picture this: it’s a bright day, the Hindu temples are all abuzz with energy, and outside, you spot a procession of devotees bringing in food offerings. Some of these devotees even have piercings on their backs, chests, and even through their cheeks!
This is the scene you’ll get when you attend Thaipusam, a Tamil Hindu festival, in Singapore. Because of these lively celebrations and shocking sights, it’s one of the most anticipated festivals here.
If you’re visiting Singapore during Thaipusam, here’s a handy-dandy article that will prepare you for the celebration.
What is Thaipusam?
Thaipusam is a Tamil Hindu festival that commemorates the achievements of Lord Subramaniam (sometimes known as Lord Murugan), a Hindu deity who’s the son of Lord Siva and goddess Sakti.
In Skanda Purana, a Hindu mythological book, a legend goes that devas (celestial beings) were constantly attacked by asura (demons), so they asked for help from Lord Siva. Lord Siva then sent his son to conquer the asura and save everyone.
Lord Subramaniam was successful in this task, and to thank him for his contributions, the devas seated him on a chariot and decked him with brilliant jewels.
When is Thaipusam celebrated?
Thaipusam is celebrated on the full moon of either January or February every year.
Thaipusam is actually a portmanteau of “Thai,” a month in the Tamil calendar that corresponds to either January or February in the Gregorian calendar, and “Pusam,” the Tamil rendering of Pushya Nakshatra.
Pushya Nakshatra is a star constellation that usually becomes visible during the full moon. Hindu scriptures believe that this constellation is one of the most auspicious, so devotees perform auspicious activities on the day that it’s supposed to be visible.
Where is Thaipusam celebrated?
Thaipusam is generally celebrated in countries with a significant Tamil community like India, Malaysia, and Mauritius. But it’s also present in countries with a population of Tamil diaspora.
These countries include Canada, the United States, South Africa, Fiji, Réunion, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica, other parts of the Caribbean, and Singapore.
In Singapore, Thaipusam used to be a public holiday, but that stopped in 1968 when the Holidays (Amendment) Act was passed.
How is Thaipusam celebrated in Singapore?
Even though Thaipusam isn’t a public holiday in Singapore anymore, Hindus still celebrate the festival by participating in a chariot procession and kavadi, fasting and practicing sexual abstinence, and adorning an image of Lord Subramaniam.
Fasting and Sexual Abstinence
For Hindus, Thaipusam isn’t just a one-off celebration; they prepare for the festival months in advance. Their way of preparing comes in the form of fasting or eating just one vegetarian meal every day and sexual abstinence.
Usually, the people who fast and abstain months before Thaipusam are doing so because they’re asking for a favor from the deity. They believe that in return for the god granting their favors, they have to undergo a test of physical and spiritual endurance.
Aside from fasting and abstinence, devotees take part in extensive prayers. Doing so is said to strengthen them spiritually before Thaipusam.
Kavadi
Kavadi is another form of sacrifice or test of physical endurance that devotees participate in during Thaipusam. Kavadi is a ceremonial act that shows devotion through dance, food offerings, and bodily self-mortification.
The bodily self-mortification comes in the form of multiple piercings on devotees’ flesh—usually through the cheek and tongue but sometimes, on the chest and back as well.
Devotees can also carry a steel or D-shaped wooden frame with bars to support their shoulders. This wooden frame is also called kavadi.
The practice of carrying kavadi comes from a legend about a man named Idumban. He had to carry an object resembling two hills suspended from a pole to get his heart’s desire from Lord Subramaniam.
During Thaipusam, kavadis are typically adorned with flowers and peacock feathers (peacock is Lord Subramaniam’s mascot). Additionally, kavadi carriers have as many as 100 piercings.
For many Hindus, participating in Kavadi is a form of both penance and thanksgiving to Lord Subramaniam. It’s also believed to be a ritual of purity and getting rid of pollution.
Grand Processions
On both the eve of Thaipusam and the day of, processions occur—much to the excitement of devotees and onlookers alike.
The first procession happens on the eve of the festival, and it’s a chariot procession that starts from Tank Road. The chariot is beautifully adorned and houses a statue of Lord Subramaniam, which is then paraded around the area.
The chariot will make stops at various temples so that Lord Subramaniam can greet the gods and goddesses being housed there. People who want to catch sight of Lord Subramaniam can wait their turn by staying in these temples.
Another procession begins in the early hours of the morning. This procession is 4.5 kilometers long, and it will take devotees around Little India—from Sri Srinivasa Temple to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.
This procession is the culmination of all the physical and spiritual preparations that devotees have done. Devotees participate in prayers, and some of them, especially women and children, carry offerings like pots of milk, fruits, and flowers.
Milk, in particular, is a popular offering because it symbolizes fertility and abundance. Devotees carrying pots of milk will then pour it over the statue of Lord Subramaniam when it’s time to offer their gifts.
Meanwhile, men carry their kavadis. Some will also shave their head as an act of worship.
Adorning Lord Subramaniam’s Image
According to legend, when Lord Subramaniam defeated his foes, his worshippers gave him brilliant jewels and a golden spear. Hindus today try to do the same thing by adorning his image with beautiful flowers.
That’s why when you visit Hindu temples during Thaipusam, the statues inside are always so beautifully decorated. Even if you’re not Hindu yourself, you can offer flowers as a gift; the devotees will greatly appreciate it.
Where do I go to celebrate Thaipusam in Singapore?
Visiting temples is another great way to celebrate Thaipusam in Singapore. The three main temples worth visiting during this festival are Sri Srinavasa Perumal Temple, Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, and Sri Mariamman Temple.
Little India is also a destination that people like to go to during Thaipusam because the community there goes all out to celebrate this festival.
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
Address: 397 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 218123
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—5:30 am to 12 pm, 5:30 to 9 pm
Contact Number: +6562985771
Website
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the god of preservation and time and the protector of good. That’s why its 20-meter gopuram (entrance tower) features several incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Aside from Vishnu, the temple is also home to Lakshmi and Andal, the goddesses of wealth and beauty, respectively. Other Hindu deities featured here are Lord Hanuman (god of wisdom) and Sudarshana Chakra (Vishnu’s divine discus).
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple is the starting point of the Thaipusam procession, which is why it always has a crowd of visitors (both devotees and non-devotees alike) on the day of.
Sri Thendayuthapani Temple
Address: 15 Tank Rd, Singapore 238065
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—7 am to 12 pm, 5:30 to 8:30 pm
Contact Number: +6567379393
Website
Sri Thendayuthapani Temple is also known as the Chettiars’ Temple because it was built by the Chettiars (Indian moneylenders) in 1859. To this day, it’s still managed by the Chettiars’ Temple Society.
One interesting thing about this temple is its roof. Instead of your usual materials, the roof features 48 intricately etched glass panels; as a result, the temple seems to sparkle during the day, especially during sunrise and sunset.
This temple is the site of the chariot procession the day before Thaipusam. It’s also where devotees come to pray for penance during the festival.
Sri Mariamman Temple
Address: 244 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058793
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—6 am to 12 pm, 6 to 9 pm
Contact Number: +6562234064
Website
Built in 1927, Sri Mariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. It was constructed by immigrants from the Nagapatnam and Cuddalore districts of South India, which is why its architecture is in the Dravidian style (aka the South Indian temple style).
In particular, the main highlight of this temple is its gopuram. It stands at six stories and features extremely vivid and detailed sculptures of deities and mythological beasts.
Though Sri Mariamman Temple is visited by devotees during Thaipusam, it’s more well-known for its Kumbhabhishekham ritual (which supposedly homogenizes, synergizes, and unites the deity’s powers) and the Firewalking Festival.
Little India
Little India, in general, is a wonderful place to visit during Thaipusam because the thriving Tamil community can be found here. So, you can expect that people here go all out on their celebrations.
The great thing about Little India is that it boasts colorful murals in every nook and cranny. There are also several amazing restaurants, especially Indian restaurants, and quirky shops, so you can treat yourself to good food and collectible items if you want.