Photo Essay

Worshipping the God of War: Thaipusam 2014

Thaipusam 2014

Thaipusam 2014

Thaipusam happens on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai. On this day, thousands of Hindu Devotees honours Murugan, the son of Shiva and Parvati.
It is believed that on this day, Parvati presented a spear to Murugan to vanquish an evil demon and combat its evil deeds.
In other words, Thaipusam is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil.

Devotees prepare for Thaipusam by fasting for about a month or even longer.
On the day of the festival, they shave their heads, bear pots of milk, smash coconuts, pierce their bodies with sharp objects, carry Kevadis and undertake a pilgrimage from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at 397 Serangoon Road in the Little India district and concluding at Sri Thandayuthapani Temple on 15 Tank Road which is about five kilometres long.

Thaipusam 2014 Praying

Starting the journey with prayers

Thaipusam 2014

Devotees going into a trance

L1001980

Thaipusam 2014

Friends and families help the devotees prepare.

Thaipusam 2014

Thaipusam 2014

Thaipusam 2014

Singing and blessings

Thaipusam 2014

Preparing the milk to wash the spear

Thaipusam 2014

Thaipusam 2014

Whipping of the hands before the journey

Thaipusam 2014

The items needed for the kevadi…

Thaipusam 2014

Thaipusam 2014

Thaipusam 2014, Jamie Chan

Each kevadi can weigh up to 35kg…

Thaipusam 2013

Thaipusam 2012

Thaipusam 2011

Thaipusam 2010

Thaipusam is like a yearly report card for me.
I’ve documented this festival ever since I started shooting and I use it as the baseline of my photography each year.
I guess I am pretty disappointed with myself and my images this year and I have all the excuses in the world to justify them but the fact stays that as a series, the images are not strong enough…

I honestly don’t have half a clue what I am doing these days besides making friends with mannequins. So much so that I am asking myself, what happened to the girl who rode a bicycle in Thamel -during rush hour.

In other non depressing news, I am working on an assignment from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra; a mad crazy one with a looming deadline.
It is going to be really exciting as this is the type of project I would love to make a living out of. Minus the deadline
I’ll share more details really soon, in the meantime take care everyone.

Thaipusam 2014 Kevadi

8 replies »

    • Thank you! Yes, Thaipusam is one amazing festival; I absolutely loved the energy of it. I wonder what it would be like photographing Thaipusam in India! That would be a treat.

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