SINGAPORE, February 2, 2007: Hindus in Singapore celebrated the annual festival of Thaipusam on Thursday in honor of Lord Subrahmanya (also known as Lord Murugan) who represents virtue, youth and power to Hindus and is the destroyer of evil. It is the statue of Lord Subrahmanya that is decorated with jewels and finery on the first day before Thaipusam and together with his two consorts, Valli and Devayani, is placed on a chariot and brought in procession. The ceremony starts in the early hours of the morning when the first group of devotees of Lord Subrahmanya carrying milk pots leave Sri Srinvasa Perumal Temple for Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, where the milk is offered to the Deity of Lord Subrahmanya. The festival also sees a spectacular two and a half mile procession by devotees from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road to the Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple at Keong Siak Road.
Some devotees pierce their tongues with skewers and carry a garlanded wooden arch across their shoulders, while others carry a kavadi (semi circular metal structure decorated with peacock feathers, flowers and palm leaves) walking in procession between the two temples. Placing a kavadi at the end of the foot procession at the altar of Lord Subrahmanya and making an offering of milk symbolizes the cleansing of the mind and soul and blessings from the Deity. Prior to Thaipusam, a devotee must prepare himself spiritually by living a life of abstinence for a month while maintaining a strict vegetarian diet. Deputy Prime Minister Professor S. Jayakumar, who joined in the celebrations, was impressed by this year’s arrangements and encouraged other races to know more about the Hindu festival.