Thaipusam, a festival?

On this day, Indians of Tamil origin celebrate by making a vow of devotion to the god Lord Muruban. Those who make this vow then walk carrying an offering for 4 km beginning at one sacred temple, Sri Srinivasa Perumal,ending at another, Sri Thandayuthapani, also called the Chettiar Temple.
Some pilgrims carry simple jugs of milk to offer to the god. Others choose to show extreme devotion to the god by enduring pain during the journey. These pilgrims walk with a spear piercing the cheeks and tongue, carry items attached to the body by hooks, or bear a heavy and ornately decorated kavadi that is affixed to his body by hooks or rods that pierce the skin.






To prepare for this arduous journey, the Hindus must spend up to 40 days fasting, praying, and purifying their bodies for the walk. Along the way, family members and friends accompany the devotee. They chant scriptures, beat drums, and provide physical and moral support until the devotee reaches the end of the journey.







After arriving at the temple at the end of the journey, the bearer makes his offering to the god with ceremony and prayers. He then proceeds outside where the kavarti is disassembled, the hooks and rods removed, and he is cared for by family and friends. This festival is celebrated only in Singapore, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. It is no longer allowed in India.