The smashing coconut as one of the processions in Thaipusam festival
When I visited Penang recently, I did not realize that I would experience another Thaipusam festival in Penang (my first would be in Singapore a couple of years ago).
Thaipusam is a festival in a place where there are many Tamil communities. Usually happens in January or February, depends on the position of a star (Pusam). The Thaipusam festival is to remember when Parvati (the wife of Shiva) gave Murugan (the son) a Vel (spear) to vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.
During the festival, there are some people that bring kavadi – a burden that he must bring as a vow after he was received something (healthy life, recovery, or others) from the god. A kavadi can be a form of a milk pot or anything that is carried on their shoulders. Some will pierce their body, including their cheek with ‘arrows’ or other things.
My friend – Aggy from DEWTraveler, and I actually didn’t plan to look at this festival, but I encouraged her to see the festival as this is special. We were told that the festival started from Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Lebuh Queen, but once we got there, there’s nothing there. We only saw the smashed coconut (as a symbol to shatter someone’s ego to reach self-realization) in front of the temple. Then we decided to just go directly to Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani Temple that is located near the Botanical Garden.
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The road near the Botanical Garden was closed, so we needed to walk a bit from the bus stop. Apparently there were already plenty of people in this location when we arrived in the afternoon.
We did have a chance to see the devotees carrying the kavadi heading to the new temple on the hill.
A devotee carrying a kavadi near Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani Temple in Penang, Malaysia
A devotee pierced an arrow to his mouth and milking pots on his body
The piercing on the body – Thaipusam festival (Penang, Malaysia)
A kavadi – Thaipusam festival (Penang, Malaysia)
When I looked at the photos of the devotees that I took, I realize that the job of the devotees carrying the kavadi is really heavy. They needed to carry the kavadi from Sri Maha Mariamman Temple barefoot to the Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani Temple where the distance is aroud 6KM and some of them pierce their body. But from the devotees point of view, this is the thing that they need to fulfill as a vow to their god.
The festivals has drawn people not only from the Tamil race, but from other races too. The visitors came to see the Tamil tradition that happened not only in Penang, but also in other places, such as in Kuala Lumpur (Batu Caves) and in Singapore.
A lot of visitors come to see the Thaipusam Festival (Penang, Malaysia)
I’ve been to Batu Caves for a visit before, and also I have witnessed Thaipusam festivals when I was living in Singapore. Seeing this festival again in Penang was a really interesting experience for me as a visitor. Although I didn’t follow the festival until the end, at least I could see a more ‘complete’ version of Thaipusam festival as I only watched the devotees doing the pilgrimage in Little India, Singapore, before. I also started to realize that nowadays, the devotees are not only from the Tamil, but I saw a Chinese guy entering the temple where there were still several metal hooks (to hang the milking pots) on his body.
The new temple of Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani is located above the hill, and to reach there, we needed to climb 513 stairs! It has more stairs then the one in Batu Caves. Whoos whoos! Haha …
513 stairs to the temple on the hill (Penang, Malaysia)
Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani Temple on a hill (Penang, Malaysia)
Bathing the statue with milk inside the Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani temple (Penang, Malaysia)
Apparently, before entering the temple on the hill, the entrance was divided into three. We just followed the people in front of me that I think are visitors too. From what I saw on the television that was installed on the pillar near the queue line, one of the processions happened inside the temple was to bath the god with the milk.
Not only that, as we’re on the hill, we got a wonderful view of Penang from above.
The city of Penang from above the hill – at Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani Temple (Malaysia)
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So I just wish to those who celebrate the festival:
Happy Thaipusam! 🙂
Happy Thaipusam!
keren banget cultural trip gini tapi liat tuskan di kulit bikin ngilu…
Gpp kakkk … gak sampe berdarah2 kok 🙂
Wow! Never been to a Thaipusam celebration before and surely, never been to this new temple. It has more stairs than Batu Caves, it must be very tiring! But Batu Caves is more unique because it is in a cave, right? Otherwise, nothing different from other temples. Hehehe
Yes Batu Caves is unique because it’s inside the cave but I think I like this new temple in Penang more 😛
Well, never been to this one, so cannot judge. Haha.
But once I step foot here, will let you know which one I like better ;D
Aahh okay … So I am waiting for your post about it then 😉
Mirip2 yang di singkawang yaaa ??? bener ngak sech
Ooh Tatung itu yak? Tusuk2nya mirip lah ya, tp kan ga gotong apa2 mereka ya? 😀
iya tatung, tp ini kayak nya lebih seru yaaaa. Jadi pingin liat langsung, di batu cave juga lebih seru
Kl Batu caves soale dulu udah pernah ke sana kaak, walau ga pas festival … Tp kayaknya mungkin bakal lebih2 mbludak orangnya deh kakkk 😮
Kereennn eventnya… Nggak serame di Batu Caves ya. Tapi mata ngilu lihat foto kulit ditusuk besi panjang begituan >.<
Wuihhh pernah yang di Batu Caves ya Oom … Kok menurutku areanya bagusan ini ya 😛
Tenang Oom, asal jgn dicoba sendiri, ga bakal ngilu kok hehe …
Cieh udah dipost ajah!
It was certainly an interesting first time experience for me, so glad you insisted on me going there. What made it a lot more interesting was the way we climbed that hill with the devotees!
Haha! Ini intermezzo post sblm ngelanjutin yg sblmnya!
Yes indeed … am also curious on how they take out the hook/arrow from their body … I think there’s some ritual before they take it out! 🙂
Seeing those people carrying kavadi really shows how far people would go for something they believe. Nice pictures, Timothy! I wonder if I could take many pictures if I were there; sometimes I can be a bit squeamish myself. 🙂
Yes true Bama! They can go that far as the gratitude to their god 🙂
So you wanna try to see it next year? Don’t worry lah 😉
aduh ngilu liat ditusuk2 di punggung itu 😐 😐 😐
btw poto temple-nya bagus deh yg pertama.. (y) (y)
Haha, ure not the first one saying that 🙂
Ma’acih kakak Kania :3
Ok, I must admit that – some locals are crazy and insane!!!! Weren’t they in a constant pain?
They are actually in a semi trance state, so I think they don’t feel the pain … 🙂
It’s interesting how the devotees have the same ritual of piercing themselves. It reminds of the vegetarian festival in Phuket where they do the same thing. Different festival, different religion, same piercing 🙂
Oh … I’ve never heard of it before, and interested to see it if there’s a chance! Thanks for the info 😉