Thaipusam 07

A video i shot during this year's Thaipusam festival. Watch the devotees as they prepare themselves by cleansing not only their body, but also their minds and hearts as well. The devotees typically perice themselves with needles that form up a "kavadi", which is a portable altar that showcases peacock feathers and innate ornaments.



Some additional info on Thaipusam:
Thaipusam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம்) is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan/Feb). Pusam refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates both the birthday of Lord Murugan (also Subramaniam), the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (lance) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.