Thaipusam

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mainly in South India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore, honoring Lord Murugan, the god of war and victory. Devotees undertake elaborate rituals, including fasting, prayers, and pilgrimages to temples. Many carry kavadis—ornate structures—and perform acts of penance, such as piercing their skin with hooks and skewers, as acts of devotion and spiritual cleansing. The festival emphasizes faith, devotion, and community, often lasting a day or more. It is a vibrant and intense expression of religious commitment, with participants demonstrating their devotion through physical sacrifices and rituals.