Being a Singaporean for so long, it was my first time catching Thaipusam.
Thaipusam is a Hindu celebration for the birthday of the Hindu deity Subramaniam. Hindus show the sincerity of their faith, make and fulfil vows. When their prayers are answered, they fulfil their vows by piercing his cheeks, tongue, face or other suitable body parts with sharp objects. Next his friends or relatives load a kavadi on his shoulder and he goes on a 4km journey of faith.
As Thaipusam is not a public holiday here, normally, I would be at school or at work when it happened. Camping at the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple near Mohammad Sultan Road which was the resting place for the worshipers, I observed the removal of the kavadis.
They arrive at the designated pitstop ...
Surrounded by friends who help them to remove the kavadi, these same friends will apply pressure to the wounds using their fingers. Blood was spurting out for a few of the deeper wounds. My only thought was... "I hope he's not HIV positive" - l -
Once everything was removed, free, not in pain. Just calmly walking around
