Editing Thaipusam

{{Short description|Tamil Hindu festival}}
{{good article}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox holiday|
| holiday_name  = Thaipusam
| image         = Penang thaipusam Kavadi procceession.jpg
| caption       = Chariot of [[Murugan]] during Thaipusam festivities in Malaysia
| nickname      = 
| observedby    = Primarily [[Tamils|Tamil Hindus]] in [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[Indonesia]], [[Southeast Asia]], [[Caribbean]], [[Mauritius]], [[Fiji]], [[South Africa]] and [[United States]]
| date          = First [[Purnima|full moon]] coinciding with [[Pushya|Pusa]] [[nakshatra]] in the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of [[Pausha|Thai]]
| observances   = 
| celebrations  = [[Kavadi Aattam]]
| type          = [[List of Hindu festivals|Hindu]]
| significance  = Commemoration of [[Murugan]]'s victory over [[Surapadman]]
| date2024      = Thursday, 25 January 
| date2025      = Tuesday, 11 February 
| alt           = 
}}
{{Kaumaram}}
'''Thaipusam''' or '''Thaipoosam''' ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: Taippūcam, {{IPA|ta|t̪əjppuːsəm|IPA}}) is a [[Tamil Hindu]] festival celebrated on the first [[Purnima|full moon]] day of the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of [[Pausha|Thai]] coinciding with [[Pushya|Pusam]] [[Nakshatra|star]]. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of [[Hinduism|Hindu]] god [[Murugan]] over the [[asura|demon]] [[Śūrapadmā|Surapadman]]. During the battle, Murugan is believed to have wielded a [[vel]], a divine spear granted by his mother, [[Parvati]].

The festival includes ritualistic practices of [[Kavadi Aattam]], a ceremonial act of sacrifice carrying a physical burden as a means of balancing a spiritual debt. Worshipers often carry a pot of [[cow milk]] as an offering and also do [[mortification of the flesh]] by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with ''vel'' skewers. Devotees prepare for the rituals by keeping clean, doing regular prayers, following a vegetarian diet and fasting while remaining celibate.

Thaipusam is observed by [[Tamils]] in [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Southeast Asia]] notably in [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], and [[Indonesia]]. It is also observed by other countries with significant Tamil diaspora like [[Fiji]], [[Mauritius]], [[Seychelles]], [[South Africa]], [[Canada]], the [[Caribbean]] countries including [[Trinidad and Tobago]] and [[Guyana]], and in countries with significant Indian migrants like the [[United States]]. It is a public holiday in Mauritius, select states in Malaysia and in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]].

== Etymology ==
Thaipusam is a portmanteau of two [[Tamil language|Tamil]] words: [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of [[Pausha|Thai]] and the name of the [[Nakshatra|star]] [[Pushya|Pusam]], denoting the day of occurrence of the festival.<ref name="PS">{{cite book|title=Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia|first=Christian|last=Roy|year=2005|isbn=978-1-8510-9689-3|page=462-463|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing}}</ref>

== Theology ==
According to the [[Skanda Purana|Kanda Puranam]] (the Tamil version of the Skanda Purana), three [[asura]]s (a race of celestial beings) [[Śūrapadmā|Surapadman]], [[Tārakāsura|Tarakasuran]], and Singamukhan performed austerities to propitiate the [[Hindu]] god [[Shiva]]. Shiva granted them various boons which gave them near-immortality and the ability to conquer the [[Trailokya|three worlds]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&dq=Kanda+Puranam+Murugan+Surapadman&pg=PT1190|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=18 April 2014 |publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-8-1847-5277-9|page=1190 }}</ref> They subsequently started a reign of tyranny in their respective realms and oppressed the celestial beings including the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] and other people. The devas pleaded Shiva for his assistance to put an end to the reign of Surapadman and the asuras. In response, Shiva manifested five additional heads and a divine spark emerged from each of the six heads.<ref name="Kanda">{{cite book|title=Sri Kandha Puranam|first=Akilā|last=Civarāman̲|isbn=978-8-1795-0397-3|page=55|publisher=Giri Trading|year=2006}}</ref> Initially, the wind-god [[Vayu]] carried the sparks, but the fire-god [[Agni]] took possession of them afterwards because of the unbearable heat. Agni deposited the sparks in the [[Ganges|Ganga]] river. The water in the Ganga started evaporating due to intense heat, and so the goddess [[Ganga (goddess)|Ganga]] took them to the Saravana lake, where each of the sparks developed into a baby boy.<ref name="Kanda"/> The six boys were raised by [[handmaiden]]s known as the [[Kṛttikā|Kṛttikās]] and they were later fused into one by [[Parvati]], thus giving rise to the six-headed [[Murugan]].<ref>{{cite book|title=God and Science|first=Sridharan|last=T.K.R|isbn=979-8-8870-4354-8|publisher=Notion Press|year=2022}}</ref> 

Parvati granted him a divine [[spear]] known as the [[vel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/vanquishing-the-demon/article30197138.ece|title=Vanquishing the demon|date=5 December 2005|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> Murugan was accompanied by [[Veerabaahu|Virabahu]] who served as his commander-in-chief and eight others, who were sons bore by nine [[shakti]]s who arose from the gems of the broken [[anklet]] of Parvati, when she ran from her seat due to the heat generated by the sparks emanating from Shiva.<ref name="Kanda"/> Along with the armies of the devas, Murugan waged war on the asuras. Murugan split Surapadman into two with his vel and the two halves transformed into a mango tree and later into a peacock and a rooster. Murugan adopted the peacock as his [[Vahana|mount]] and took the rooster as his [[Cock flag|flag]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Chwalkowski|first=Farrin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W-22DQAAQBAJ&dq=Kartikeya+peacock+rooster&pg=PA476|title=Symbols in Arts, Religion and Culture: The Soul of Nature|date=2016-12-14|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=978-1-4438-5728-4|page=476}}</ref> Thaipusam festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Murugan over the Surapadman.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Juergensmeyer|first1=Mark|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B105DQAAQBAJ&dq=Thaipusam+peacock+rooster&pg=PA1267|title=Encyclopedia of Global Religion|last2=Roof|first2=Wade Clark|date=2012|publisher=SAGE|isbn=978-0-7619-2729-7|page=1267}}</ref>

Murugan is a deity associated with yogic discipline and austerities in Hinduism and is regarded by his adherents to be capable of offering [[Moksha|mukti]] (spiritual liberation) to those who venerate him.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kesavapany|first=K.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ohxqDwAAQBAJ&dq=thaipusam+festival&pg=PT349|title=Rising India and Indian Communities in East Asia|date=August 2003|publisher=Flipside Digital Content Company|isbn=978-9-8145-1760-7|page=349|language=en}}</ref>

== Occurrence ==
Thaipusam occurs annually and is celebrated on the [[purnima|full moon day]] in the Tamil month of Thai on the confluence of star Pusam.<ref name="PS"/>

== Practices ==
{{multiple image
|image_width=300px
|image1=Kavadi_dancer_6039398.jpg
|caption1=A Kavadi procession
|image2=A day of devotion – Thaipusam in Singapore (4316108409).jpg
|caption2=Ritual piercing during Thaipusam
}}

[[Kavadi Aattam]] is a ceremonial act of sacrifice and offering practiced by devotees during the Thaipusam festival. It forms a central part of the festival and symbolizes a form of [[debt bondage]]. ''Kavadi'' (meaning "burden" in Tamil) is a physical burden which consists of a semicircular piece of wood or steel which are bent and attached to a cross structure in its simplest form, that is balanced on the shoulders of the devotee. By bearing the Kavadi, the devotees implore Murugan for assistance, usually as a means of balancing a spiritual debt or on behalf of a loved one who is in need of help or healing.<ref name="Kent">{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Alexandra|title=Divinity and Diversity: A Hindu Revitalization Movement in Malaysia|publisher=[[University of Hawaii Press]]|year=2005|isbn=978-8-7911-1489-2|page=170-174}}</ref> Worshipers often carry one or more pots of [[cow milk]] as an offering (''pal kavadi'') or other objects such as [[sugarcane]], [[tender coconut]], and [[flowers]].<ref name="Ho">{{cite book|title=Culture and Customs of Singapore and Malaysia|author1=Jaime Koh|author2=Lee-Ling Ho|year=2009|isbn=978-0-3133-5116-7|publisher=ABC-CLIO|page=176}}</ref> The most extreme and spectacular practice is the carrying of ''Vel kavadi'', a portable altar up to {{convert|2|m}} tall and weighing up to {{cvt|30|kg}}, decorated with peacock feathers and is attached to the body of the devotee through multiple skewers and metal hooks pierced into the skin on the chest and back.<ref name="PS"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Festivals of Malaysia|author=Gregory Leong|year=1992|isbn=978-9-6797-8388-9|publisher=[[University of Michigan]]|page=10}}</ref><ref name="Hume">{{cite book|title=Portals: Opening Doorways to Other Realities Through the Senses|first=Lynne|last=Hume|year=2020|isbn=978-1-0001-8987-2|publisher=Taylor & Francis}}</ref><ref name="Kent"/>

People also do a form of [[mortification of the flesh]] by [[Body piercing|piercing]] the skin, tongue or cheeks with ''vel'' skewers and [[flagellation]].<ref name="TP">{{cite book|title=They Do What: A Cultural Encyclopedia of Extraordinary and Exotic Customs from Around the World|first=A.G.|last=Javier|year=2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NebIEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT387|isbn=979-8-2161-5549-2|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|page=387}}</ref> Since public [[Self-harm|self mutilation]] is prohibited by Indian law, these practices are limited in India.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Practical implications of Mental Healthcare Act 2017: Suicide and suicide attempt|first1=Laxmi Naresh|last1=Vadlamani|first2=Mahesh|last2=Gowda|journal=Indian Journal of Psychiatry|date=2019|volume=61|issue=Suppl 4|pages=S750–S755|publisher=National library of medicine, United States|doi=10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_116_19|doi-access=free|pmid=31040468|pmc=6482674 }}</ref><ref name="TP"/> [[Vibuthi]], a type of holy ash is spread across the body including the piercing sites. Drumming and chanting of verses help the devotees enter a state of [[trance]].<ref name="TP"/> Devotees usually prepare for the rituals by keeping clean, doing regular prayers, following a vegetarian diet and fasting while remaining celibate.<ref>{{cite book|title=Celebrating Life Customs Around the World: From Baby Showers to Funerals|first=Victoria|last=Williams|year=2016|page=334|isbn=978-1-4408-3659-6|publisher=ABC-CLIO}}</ref> They make pilgrimage with bare feet and dance along the route while bearing these burdens.<ref name="SI">{{cite book|title=South India|first=David|last=Abram|publisher=Rough Guides|year=2003|page=517}}</ref>

== 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>

==See also==
* [[Hinduism in Southeast Asia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{HinduFestivals}}
{{Public holidays in India}}
{{Public holidays in Malaysia}}

[[Category:Festivals in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Religion in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Hinduism in Singapore]]
[[Category:Tamil festivals]]
[[Category:January observances]]
[[Category:February observances]]
[[Category:Kaumaram]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals in Nepal]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Mauritius]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in South Africa]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Guadeloupe]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Réunion]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Thailand]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Myanmar]]
[[Category:Observances held on the full moon]]