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.
Starting the journey with prayers
Devotees going into a trance
Friends and families help the devotees prepare.
Singing and blessings
Preparing the milk to wash the spear
Whipping of the hands before the journey
The items needed for the kevadi…
Each kevadi can weigh up to 35kg…
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.
Categories: Photo Essay, Leica, Singapore
I think the photos are nice. Good luck on the Singapore Chinese Orchestra project!
Hey Jamie! Amazing shots! So you did experience Thaipusam already! 🙂
Hey Karen, Yes I’ve experienced Thaipusam but only in Singapore!
I really want to head over to Malaysia to see how it is different(:
Amazing and lively captures, Jamie. Loved the story.
Great to see these images. I witnessed Thaipusam years ago and it was a photographers dream. I’d love to go again with digital.
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.