Thaipusam, or Thaipoosam, is a Tamil Hindu celebration on the first full moon day of the Tamil month of Thai, falling on the Pusam star. The word ‘Thaipusam,’ combines the two Tamil words above: Thai, from the Tamil Month and the name of the star, Pusam. It honours the Hindu god Murugan's triumph over the asura (demon) Surapadman.

According to the epic, Skanda Purana, three asuras—Singamukhan, Tarakasuran, and Surapadman performed rituals to appease the Hindu deity, Shiva. Pleased, Shiva gave them immense strength and power, making the trio practically invincible. With this power, they cruelly persecuted the gods (devas) and other celestial beings. Helpless, the devas pleaded for assistance. Moved, Shiva vowed to assist them. He produced five additional heads, each producing a heavenly spark. After being put in the Ganges river, the sparks were carried to Saravana Lake by the goddess Ganga, where they matured into the six-headed deity, Murugan, who was destined to defeat the Asura brothers. A long and fierce battle was fought. Surapadman was desperate, using his ultimate ability: illusion. He transformed into various forms—a mango tree, a peacock and a rooster. However, Murugan eventually managed to defeat Surapadman, by dividing him in two with his special weapon, the Vel. 

During the Thaipusam festival, believers perform a ceremonial act of sacrifice and offering known as Kavadi Aattam. It represents spiritual commitment and devotion and is a major aspect of the celebration. Kavadi, which translates to "burden" in Tamil, is a physical burden which is balanced on the devotee's shoulders and is made up of a semicircular piece of steel or wood that has been bent and fastened to a frame or structure. The devotees ask Murugan for help by carrying the Kavadi, usually to pay off a spiritual debt or on behalf of a loved one who needs support or recovery. As an offering (paal kavadi), worshippers frequently carry a pot or pots of cow milk alongside other items like flowers, sugarcane, and coconut. The carrying of Vel Kavadi, a portable altar that can reach a height of 2 meters and weigh up to 30 kilograms, is the most extreme and spectacular practice. It is adorned with peacock feathers and fastened to the devotee's body using several skewers and metal hooks that are punctured into the skin on the back and chest.

In Malaysia, Thaipusam is celebrated on a large scale at the Batu Caves (Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple), just outside of Kuala Lumpur. Additionally, Hindus also gather at the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Ipoh (Perak), the Balathandayuthapani Temple or Waterfall Hill Temple in Penang, and the Sri Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Sungai Petani (Kedah). Nevertheless, the celebrations at Batu Caves are far more exciting and energetic. It successfully became an amazing experience for visitors with over 10,000 of them attending the Batu Caves celebrations each year. From the colourful parade, and the music to just witnessing the genuine acts of devotion, it’s certainly something worth seeing and participating in. Thus, if you would like to experience the Thaipusam to the fullest, Batu Caves is the place to go!

Uniquely, other Malaysian states have their own ways of celebrating Thaipusam too. For instance, as of 2017, Thaipusam celebrations in Penang have broken a 164-year tradition by using two chariots instead of a single silver chariot. This is in contrast to the Thaipusam celebrations in other states. The statue of Lord Murugan is carried by the silver chariot, and the Vel is carried by the golden chariot. Regardless of the place, the festive spirit fills the air as the community comes together to celebrate.

In conclusion, Thaipusam is a big celebration for Hindus, usually in January or February. As a multicultural society, it is important to have a solid understanding and mutual respect for each culture’s traditions and celebrations. Through this article, I hope the readers will be able to gain a clearer picture of Thaipusam and its festivities to strengthen the mutual respect everyone should have regarding celebrations.