Thai Pusam

For lakhs of Tamil Hindus, the Thai Pusam Festival is an occasion to celebrate fulfillment of their vows to Lord Murugan. It is one the biggest festival days after Mahasivarathri for the followers of Lord Shiva. Thai Pusam occurs on January 31 a fortnight before the Mahasivarathri which is on February 14th, 2002.

Westerners are fascinated by the spectacle of the devotees carrying huge Kavadis (palanquins) profusely decorated with flowers and weighing upto 50 kg, dancing to the drumbeats in a trance. Women carry pots of milk and couples carry their infant babies in saffron cloth cradles slung on a sugarcane stem. The full throated cries of 'Vel Muruga Vel Muruga' resound throughout the day and night of the festival.

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