Editing Thaipusam (section)

== Areas of practice ==
=== India ===
Thai pusam is a major festival in the Murugan temples including the [[Six Abodes of Murugan|six abodes]] in [[South India]].<ref name="SI"/> In [[Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple]] in [[Palani]], the festival is celebrated over ten days known as Brahmotsavam.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/thaipusam-2022-from-date-to-history-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-tamil-festival-10295631.html|title=Thaipusam 2022: From date to history, here's everything you need to know about the Tamil festival| date=18 January 2022|publisher=First Post|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=22 January 2023|title=Thaipusam festival - Palani|url=https://utsav.gov.in/view-event/thai-pusam-festival-palani-1| publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=30 October 2023}}</ref> At [[Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur]], where Murugan was supposed to have emerged victorious against the asuras, the festival attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year for the ritual procession.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/devotees-throng-tiruchendur-temple-for-thai-poosam/article4352921.ece|title=Devotees throng Tiruchendur temple for Thai Poosam|date=28 January 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> A float festival is held every year in the temple tanks in [[Meenakshi Temple]] in [[Madurai]] and [[Kapaleeshwarar Temple]], [[Mylapore]], [[Chennai]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theindiatourism.com/fairs-festivals-india/float-festival-madurai.html|title=Float festival, Madurai|publisher=India Tourism|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timescontent.timesgroup.com/photo/feature/Devotees/667939|title=Devotees at Kapaleeswarar temple Mylapore for the annual float festival on the occasion of the Thaipusam in Chennai|date=28 January 2021|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> The festival is also observed as Thaipooyam Mahotsavam in [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Thaipooyam Mahotsavam, Harippad, Festivals, Alappuzha festivals|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/event/thaipooyam-festival-haippad/46|access-date=8 May 2021|publisher=Government of Kerala}}</ref> In 2021, the festival was declared a public holiday in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/thai-poosam-a-public-holiday-from-this-year/article33499884.ece|title=Thai Poosam a public holiday in Tamil Nadu from this year|date=5 January 2015|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref>

=== Outside India ===
[[File:Penang_thaipusam_Silver_chariot.jpg|thumb|Thai pusam procession in [[Penang]], [[Malaysia]]]]

While the festival originated in India, it has spread across other countries with significant Tamil diaspora.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Religious Phenomena|first=J Gordon|last=Melton|year=2007|page=332|isbn=978-1-5785-9230-2|publisher=Visible Ink Press}}</ref> It is celebrated in a much larger scale in some of the countries outside India.<ref name="PS"/> It is celebrated in [[Sri Lanka]],<ref name="TP"/> [[Myanmar]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mizzima.com/latest-news-life-news-features/myanmar%25E2%2580%2599s-tamil-community-works-maintain-their-culture|title=Myanmar's Tamil community works to maintain their culture|date=13 January 2016|access-date=1 June 2024|work=Mizzima news}}</ref> and countries in [[Southeast Asia]] notably in [[Malaysia]],<ref name="Malay"/> [[Singapore]],<ref name="Sing"/> and [[Indonesia]].<ref name="Ind"/> It is also celebrated in other countries with significant people of Tamil origin like [[Fiji]],<ref name="Fiji"/> [[Mauritius]],<ref name="Mau"/> [[Seychelles]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nation.sc/articles/3419/hindu-community-decorate-the-streets-of-victoria-for-thaipoosam-kavadi-festival|title=Hindu community decorate the streets of Victoria for Thaipoosam Kavadi festival|work=Nation|date=10 February 2020|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> [[South Africa]],<ref name="SA"/> [[Canada]],<ref name="TP"/> the [[Caribbean]] countries including [[Trinidad and Tobago]],<ref name="TP"/> and countries with significant Indian migrants like the [[United States]].<ref name="US"/>

In Malaysia, the festival attracts thousands of people for the elaborate festivities at [[Batu Caves]] near [[Kuala Lumpur]] and [[Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, Penang]].<ref name="Malay">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20110823-cave-party-malaysias-thaipusam-festival|title=Malaysia's Thaipusam festival|date=26 August 2011|newspaper=[[BBC]]|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Thaipusam in Malaysia|first=Carl Vadivella|last=Belle|year=2018|isbn=978-9-8147-8666-9|publisher=ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute}}</ref> In Singapore, devotees start the procession at [[Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple]] carrying milk pots and kavadis with spikes pierced on their body and proceeds towards [[Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, Singapore|Sri Thendayuthapani Temple]].<ref name="Sing">{{cite web|url=https://www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/thaipusam/|title=Thaipusam festival|publisher=[[Government of Singapore]]|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> Thaipusam in Mauritius is celebrated with thousands of attendees taking the ritual 'Cavadee' from Kovil Montagne.<ref name="Mau">{{cite web|url=https://mauritiusattractions.com/thaipoosam-cavadee-in-mauritius-i-347.html|title=Thaipoosam Cavadee in Mauritius|publisher=Mauritius attractions|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> In [[South Africa]], [[Thai Poosam Kavady festival in South Africa|Thaipusam Kavady]] is celebrated in [[Durban]], [[Clairwood Shree Siva Soobramoniar Temple|Clairwood Shree Siva Soobramonior Temple]] in [[Cape Town]] and Shree Sivasubramaniar Alayam in Palm Ridge.<ref name="SA">{{cite news|url=http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,102881,00.html|title=Hindus end ato nement festival of Kavady|work=SABC News|date=24 April 2005|access-date=1 November 2023|archive-date=24 April 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050424210903/https://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,102881,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> At [[Fiji]], the festival is celebrated at Sri Siva Subrahmanya Swami Temple in [[Nadi]] town and at the Sri Raj Mahamariamman Temple in Suva.<ref name="Fiji">{{cite news|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2018/02/04/hindu-devotees-brave-rain-water-cuts-in-fete/|title=Hindu Devotees Brave Rain, Water Cuts In Fete|date=4 February 2018|newspaper=Fiji Sun|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> In Indonesia, processions are [[Medan]] and [[Palani Andawer Temple]], [[Aceh]]. At Medan, pilgrims accompany a hundred year old [[chariot]] locally known as ''Radhoo'' to [[Sri Mariamman Temple, Medan|Sri Mariamman Temple]] at [[Kampung Madras]].<ref name="Ind">{{cite report|url=https://www.cgimedan.gov.in/event_detail/?eventid=2|title=Celebrating Thai Pusam|publisher=Consulate General of India, Medan|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> In the US, the festival is celebrated in various Hindu temples across the country.<ref name="US">{{cite web|last=V|first=Nirupama|date=5 February 2019|title=Concord Temple Yatra: Unique Feat|url=https://indiacurrents.com/concord-temple-yatra-unique-feat/|publisher=India Currents|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> 

It is a national holiday in Mauritius and a state holiday in [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Johor]], [[Negeri Sembilan]], [[Penang]], [[Perak]], [[Putrajaya]] and [[Selangor]] in Malaysia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publicholidays.mu/thaipoosam-cavadee/|title=Thaipoosam Cavadee|publisher=Public Holidays Mauritius|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publicholidays.com.my/thaipusam/|title=Thaipusam Malaysia|publisher=Public Holidays Malaysia|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> It was a declared national holiday in Singapore till 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/press-replies/2015/thaipusam-as-public-holiday-mom-replies|title=Thaipusam as public holiday: MOM replies|date=14 February 2015|publisher=[[Government of Singapore]]|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref>