"Thaipusam 2008 "
Here are some of the essays that our students wrote about their experiences during Thipusam 2008.
I didn't pass out at a road.
Written by Hong 22nd Jan. 2008
Before I went to the 2008 Thaipusam Festival in Singapore, I had found the information what the Thaipusam is.
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January or February). 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. (I will omit the details.)
  
On January 22nd, I went to the the roads and temple that was holding the Thaipusam festival with beautiful teacher 'Annie' and lovely classmates. We had gathered at school and went to the roads where many devotees were parading. About 15 minutes later, we had arrived at the middle of the way to the temple, the destination of the parade. A flock of devotees who had been piercing something into their skin on the chest and back were parading and going to the temple. After we watched for a little while, we followed the parades in order to go to the temple together with them. While we were going to the temple, I received the foods and drinks from supporters of festival.
We arrived at the temple since we had walked for about 30 minutes. At that time, I was very surprised at amazing spectacles of festival. There were many devotees, their family and tourists anticipating in the festival. Especially, I felt faint a little bit and couldn't see when I saw the devotees had needles and hooks pulled out from their chest and skin. It made me horrified and dizzied a little bit, but now, I think it will be the most memorable and unforgettable scenes during my lifetime. |
