Thaipusam 2027 थाईपूसम

Why Thaipusam is celebrated

Thaipusam is dedicated to Lord Murugan, also called Kartikeya, Subramanya or Skanda. Tamil Hindus see him as the god of courage, wisdom and victory. Devotees believe that on this day his mother Parvati gave him the vel, a divine spear, so that he could defeat evil.

For many families, the day is about keeping a promise to God. People take a vow when they pray for help, such as recovery from illness or success in a hard task. On Thaipusam they fulfil that vow by carrying a kavadi or offering milk at a Murugan temple. The festival stands for faith, self control and the victory of good over pride.

History and story of Thaipusam

According to tradition, the demon Soorapadman and his brothers troubled the gods and sages. Lord Murugan was born to end this suffering. Parvati handed him the vel, which carried her own power, and Murugan led the army of the gods into battle. He defeated Soorapadman, and the story says the demon was turned into a peacock and a rooster, which became Murugan's mount and the emblem on his flag.

The worship of Murugan is very old in the Tamil land. Early Tamil poetry already praises him as the lord of the hills. Over centuries, six famous shrines, the Arupadai Veedu, became the main centres of his worship, and Thaipusam grew into one of their biggest days.

How Thaipusam is celebrated

Many devotees prepare for weeks. They eat simple vegetarian food, avoid alcohol, and pray daily. Some wear yellow or saffron clothes.

The best known offering is the kavadi, which means burden. A kavadi can be a simple wooden arch decorated with peacock feathers and flowers, carried on the shoulders. Others carry a paal kudam, a pot of milk, on the head and pour it over the deity as abhishekam. Some devotees pierce the tongue, cheeks or skin with small vel shaped skewers as a sign of complete surrender. Shaving the head is also a common offering.

Pilgrims often walk long distances barefoot, chanting "Vel Vel Muruga" and "Arohara".

Thaipusam across India

In Tamil Nadu, Palani is the most crowded centre. Lakhs of pilgrims walk there from nearby districts, and the hill temple of Dandayudhapani sees huge crowds. Thiruchendur, Swamimalai, Thiruthani and Thiruparankundram also hold big celebrations, along with Murugan temples across Chennai and Madurai. Kerala and parts of Karnataka mark the day too.

Tamil communities abroad celebrate it on a large scale. Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia draws very large crowds, and Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and South Africa also see kavadi processions.