ThaipusamWEI Festival at WEI

WAN SUHARA BT WAN AB WAHIB

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Printed in Printed and published by Spencer Azizul Sdn Bhd C/O 47 Jalan Dato Hj. Eusoff, Off Jalan Ipoh, Kompleks Damai, 50400 Kuala Lumpur. Content What is thaipusam 10-11

Kaavadi 12-15

Celebration 16-19

Preparation 20-21

Batu Caves 22-27

Adherents of 28-31 followers statue

Prossession 32-51

Head shaving 52-53

What is Thaipusam

Based on that i know, Thaipusam is Hindu festival celebrated by the Tamil community on the full moon, in the month of Janu- ary or February tamil. Tamil society largely found where there is significant present of Tamil society like India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar. The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the month, Thai and the name of the star, Pusam. This star is at the highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when gave Murugan vel “” so he can defeat the evil demon Soorapadman. There is a misconception among people that Thaipusam marks the anniversary of the accused;. However, it is believed that Vaikhasi Vishakam, which falls in the month Vai- khasi (May / June), is the birthday of the accused. Kaavadi

Kavadi cavadee Attam is a dance performed by the devotees during the cer- emonial worship of Murugan, the Tamil God of War.[6] It is often performed dur- ing the festival of Thaipusam and emphasizes debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from the God Murugan. Generally, Hindus take a vow to offer a kavadi to idol for the purpose of tiding over or averting a great calamity. For instance, if the devotee’s son is laid up with a fatal disease, he would pray to Shanmuga to grant the boy a lease of life in return for which the devotee would take a vow to dedicate a kavadi to Him. The simplest kavadi is a semicircular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on the shoulders, to the temple. In addition, some have a small spear through their tongue, or a spear through the cheeks. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord Mu- rugan. It also prevents him from speaking and gives great power of endurance. Celebration In Palani, Tamil Nadu, India, Thousands of devotees flock to Palani and attend kavadi. According to palani.org, “The number of kavadis reaching Palani for Thai Pusam is about 10,000. For Pankuni Uttiram, 50,000 kavadis arrive. It is kavadi to your right, kavadi to your left, kavadi in front of you, kavadi behind you, kavadi above you and kavadi below you.”[8]

In Vadalur (Cudalore district), Saint Vallalar (1823–1874)(Ra- malinga Adigalar) established Sathya Gnana Sabai(Lotus Temple). He kept 7 Screens and Camphor lighted Jothi every thaipusam day at 6am, 10am, 1 pm, 7 pm, 10 pm, and the next day 5:30 in this temple. Every monthly Pusam day 7 pm half screen Jothi Darshan performing. This was established in the year 1872, which is the Arutperumjothi Darshan. It can be seen monthly once and yearly six times only, on the state Government Declare local Holiday for the cudalore district. In Haripad Subramayawsami Temple, Alapuzha, Kerala is famous for Kavadiyattom. Almost 5000 kavadis coming to the temple from many temples in the locality. garga In Vaikom, Kerala, India, Thai Pusam festival is conducted with Kaavadis at Udayanapuram Subramanya temple. Devotees take panchamritha kaavadi, paal kaavadi, bhasma kaavadi, etc. In Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Thai Pusam festival is conducted at Satyavageeswara temple. The utsava moorthy is taken in procession on a vahanam (mount). There is nel(Paddy)parai alappu or Nel alavu, as a ritual performed for good luck and prosperity. In Cheriyanad Subrahmanya Swami Temple, Chengannur, Alappuzha District, Kerala, India, Thai Pusam is celebrated with more than 500 Kavadis. The rituals are followed in strict manner. In Nallur, Jaffna, Sri Lanka, Thai Pusam festival is conducted at Nallur Kandhasamy Temple. Many Tamil devotees irrespective of religion take part in celebrations. Even from Roman Catholic faith and Muslims take part in Thai Pusam celebrations and take Kavadis. Preparation

Devotees prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting approximately 48 days before Thaipusam. Kavadi-bearers have to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of assuming the kavadi and at the time of offering it to Murugan. The kavadi-bearer observes celibacy and take only pure, Satvik food, once a day, while continuously thinking of God.

On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads and undertake a pil- grimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common.

The simplest kavadi is a semicircular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on the shoulders, to the temple. In addition, some have a small spear through their tongue, or a spear through the cheeks. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord Murugan. It also prevents him from speaking and gives great power of endurance. Batu Caves In Malaysia, the temple at Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur, often attracts over one million devotees and tens of thousands of tourists.[10] The procession to the caves starts at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur in the heart of the city and proceeds for 15 kilometers to the caves, an 8-hour journey culminating in a flight of 272 steps to the top.Devotees carry containers containing milk as offering to Lord Murugan either by hand or in huge decorated carriers on their shoulders called ‘kavadi’.

The kavadi may be simple wooden arched semi-circular supports holding a carrier foist- ed with brass or clay pots of milk or huge, heavy ones which may rise up to two metres, built of bowed metal frames which hold long skewers, the sharpened end of which pierce the skin of the bearers torso. The kavadi is decorated with flowers and peacock feathers imported from India. Some ka- vadi may weigh as much as a hundred kilograms. After bathing in the nearby Sungei Batu (Rocky River), the dev- otees make their way to the Temple Cave and climb the flights of stairs to the temple in the cave. Devotees use the wider centre staircase while worshippers and onlookers throng up and down those balustrades on either side. When the kavadi bearer arrives at the foot of the 272-step stairway leading up to the Temple Cave, the devotee has to make the arduous climb. Priests attend to the kavadi bearers. Consecrated ash is sprinkled over the hooks and skewers piercing the devo- tees’ flesh before they are removed. No blood is shed during the piercing and removal. Adherents of Hinduism followers statue

Prosession

Head Shaving

BIOGRAHPY

My name is Wan Suhara Bt Wan Ab Wahib Born at the morning around 6.30 am in the month of July 23th 1993. Now i’am 21 years old, study in Diploma In Multimedia at Kolej Poly-Tech Mara Ipoh for 3 years. At 13th Jan 2014, i start my In- dustrial Training at Spencer Azizul Sdn Bhd for 4 month. I have 1 and the half month for finish my Industrial Training. This is the first time I made an ebook, so hopefully you can accept my ebook well. Thank you

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