More than 500 people attended the Thaipoosam Kavadi festival on Saturday, January 30 at the Thiru Subramaniyar Temple in Mangere, South Auckland.
One of the most prominent festivals for the people of the South India region in India, and its diaspora living in different parts of the world, the day is celebrated with huge pomp and show across the globe.
Thaipoosam falls in the Thai month of Tamil calendar and is said to praise Lord Murugan and leave one’s troubles at his feet and live a life of peace and tranquillity.
The festival is an integral part of the calendar living in South India, such as Chennai, Andhra Pradesh, Kerela, Karnataka and its diaspora living in Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Fiji, Europe, China, USA etc.
“In Malaysia and Singapore, you will be hundred thousand and close to a million people on the streets and at temples making a procession, dancing, playing instruments and praying to Lord Murugan,” Ilango Krishnamurthy from Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam temple told The Indian Weekender.
The event last weekend witnessed hundreds of men, women and children dressed in ethnic-festive wears holding a floral basket and with milk in a Kalash (brass pot) tied to the basket dancing to Shehnai, flute, harmonium and drum music.
The devotees chanted ‘Murugan’ in praise of the deity while dancing to the tunes and walked into the temple hall.
Explaining the festival, its mythological history and significance, Ilango said the purpose of the exercise is not just to praise the lord but also leave their roubles, their vices at its feet to live the life of peace and tranquillity.
“The mythology goes as, once Lord Muruga got angry with his parents when they gave a mango to his elder brother Ganapathy. In agitation, Lord Murugan went to live in the south and stood on a palini.
“Lord Murugan on introspection understood why the fruit was given to his elder brother – was given a vel (spear) that represented knowledge, and it also removed three bad qualities from one being.
“The first quality is ‘Mana’ or arrogance, second ‘Maya’ or illusion, and third Kanma ‘jealousy’ that is removed by the vel that signifies, knowledge overcomes such vices,” Ilango said.
He added that as a duty during this festival, devotees asked to put their three bad qualities in the Kalash and pour it in the feet of Lord Murugan idol and get rid of these qualities from one’s hearts and feel lighter and pure.
During the event at the temple, platform stood the idol of deity Lord Murugan where the devotees stopped and poured milk from the Kalash (brass pot) onto the head and feet of the idol that signified leaving their vices at its feet.
The devotees chanted mantras while priests conducted the abhishekam and decorated the idol with flowers, colours, and laid fruits and vegetables around the idol.
“The prayers and chanting went till late in the evening as more devotees joined us at the temple and we prepared meals for everyone who came there,” Ilango added.
The fruits, food, and vegetables donated during the day are given to the attendees and the rest left out are given back to the community members.
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