Tamil Nadu

Hindus celebrate Thaipusam on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai. The Tamil community mostly celebrates it in India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. The celebration honors the battle between the demon Soorapadman and the Hindu god Murugan. In India, Thaipusam will be observed on February 5th, 2023. Legends claim that the Thai month of the Hindu calendar is particularly auspicious. Devotees walk barefoot from temples to shrines while holding Kavadis, which are decorated wooden or metal frames, to symbolize the festival. Some devotees pierce their bodies with needles as a sort of penance, and the Kavadis are frequently decorated with flowers and fruits. Devotees present Murugan at the shrine with their Kavadis at the festival’s conclusion.

On the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai, the Hindu holiday known as Thaipusam is mostly observed by the Tamil population. Thai Poosam and Thai Pushpam are other names for the celebration. In honor of Lord Murugan, the son of Shiva and Parvati, Thaipusam is observed. Kartikeya and Subramanya are additional names for Lord Murugan. He serves as the Tamil people’s patron god. Thaipusam is marked as a day of gratitude for the favors from Lord Murugan.

The Tamil terms “Thai,” which means “ten,” and “Poosam,” which means “full moon day,” are combined to form the English name “Thaipusam.” The festival honors the moment when Lord Murugan received a spear from Goddess Parvati in order to defeat the demon Soorapadman. Thaipusam’s centerpiece is a parade that begins at dawn at the temple and ends at a shrine perched atop a hill. As a sacrifice to Lord Murugan, devotees bring decorated wooden and metal constructions known as kavadis. Many devotees even pierce their bodies with the Kavadis as a sort of penance because they are frequently fairly hefty.

Ten days long and held at Palani, this celebrated event is commemorated by a flag-raising ceremony at the Perianayaki Amman temple. On the sixth day, Valli and Deyvaanai are perched on the Silver Car, leading a procession of Lord Murugan. On the seventh day of the festival, thousands of devotees congregate at the Adivaram for the “Thai Ther” Rathorchavam. Offerings to Lord Murugan include flowers, sugar, water, delicate coconuts, milk, and holy water as a token of devotion. Lord Dhandayuthapani can be seen on the hills on the seventh day, driving his golden “Thanga Ther” chariot. The biggest event in Palani, Thai Poosam, is thought to gather between 3 and 5 lakh people to the temple.

The Thaipusam holiday is celebrated with considerable pomp and spectacle in Kerala. It is a highly important event in Kerala, and it is observed with tremendous dedication. The festival is held in honor of Lord Murugan and is held on the full moon day of the Thai month. As a show of their devotion to Lord Murugan, devotees offer prayers and carry Kavadis (burdens) on this day. They also bathe in the Ganga and offer fruits and flowers to the deity. Thaipusam is a brilliant and colorful celebration that is a must-see for all tourists visiting Kerala.

The Koorkenchery Pooyam is a Kerala event held on the day of Thaipusam. This event is held to honor Lord Murugan, the son of Shiva and Parvati. Hindus all throughout the world commemorate the event, but it is most important in South India. The celebration is often held on the full moon day of Thai (January-February), though the exact date varies from year to year. The festival will be held on February 12th, 2023.

Devotees will congregate at the Koorkenchery temple on this day to offer prayers and participate in various ceremonies. Many of them will also travel to the Palani Hills, where Murugan is said to reside. It is customary for devotees to pierce their bodies with needles or hooks as a kind of self-mortification during the festival. This is done to show their devotion to Murugan and to seek his blessings. The Koorkenchery Pooyam is a significant Hindu festival that provides an opportunity to experience some of the religion’s distinctive traditions and rituals.

5th February 2023 (Sunday) is a public holiday on account of Thaipusam in Tamil Nadu.