maple thaipusam 2009 mine

Festivals and EventsFestivals and Events

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• SignificanceThaipusam is observed on the full moon day of the Tamil month Thai (Jan - Feb) to make offerings to Lord Muruga. Carrying Kavadi is considered the best offering.


• Thaipusam Singapore turns the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (Farer Park MRT) into a busy, busy place.Many devotees pray here during the week before the procession. On the eve of the Festival, truck-loads of equipment arrive - kavadi frames, spikes, aluminium plates, etc.


Festivals and Events• In the backyard of the

temple, these devotees offer prayers before setting up their kavadis.

They first fill the metal containers with milk.

Next, they burn incense and light oil lamps.

If you count these milk holders, you'll notice that they amount to numbers ending with 1 - 21, 51, 101 and so on. Do you know why


Festivals and Events• The prayers done, friends

and relatives start loading the kavadi frames onto the shoulders of devotees.

Thaipusam preparations are never quiet affairs. In the background, musicians pound drums and blow bugles.

This music gets the devotees into the right frame of mind, I am told.


Festivals and Events• A trusted relative

pierces tens (or hundreds?) of spikes into the devotee's body.

He then spreads these spikes out in a very interesting pattern, and slots the free ends into the kavadi.Nobody cringes. Nobody bleeds! I mean I didn't see anybody feeling pain at Thaipusam ;


Festivals and Events• Leather straps with

bells are added to the ankles of some devotees.

I tried to look more carefully, but could not see if there were needles beneath the straps.

Do you know why they wear these?


Festivals and Events• In Hindu worship,

lime symbolises protection by the deities.Look at the number of fruits on this young man's back. No prizes for guessing what he's asking from the deities.


Festivals and Events• Notice the size of the fish hooks on this chap's back? And the milk pots that hang from some of them?

This is not kid's play.


Festivals and Events


Festivals and Events• I was lucky

enough to witness this body-piercing act - a skewer being pushed through the cheeks of a devotee.

The devotee's friends chant and sing in the background.


Festivals and Events• The devotee's

friends chant and sing in the background. Meanwhile, one of them massages the devotee's cheeks with some white powder.


Festivals and Events• At first, I thought the

stuff was talcum powder.

My Hindu friend, Jelena, laughed. "Use talcum powder, and the poor chap would be screaming when the skewer goes through," she said.It has to be holy ash!" she insisted.


Festivals and Events• Finally, the

skewer comes out from the other cheek. Truly astounding stuff.

Please don't try this at home.


Festivals and Events• Once ready, the

devotees with kavadis queue up to leave the temple. Friends and relatives rally around them.

Kavadi after kavadi, they line the temple grounds.


Festivals and Events• As each devotee makes

his way out of the temple, a friend lights up a de-husked coconut and chants a prayer.Next, in one fell swoop, this helper smashes the coconut against the ground. The fruit breaks into bits.What does all this mean?Clue: The coconut represents an obstacle that the devotee wants to overcome...


Festivals and Events• Finally the man of the

moment makes his way onto Serangoon Road.He carries his own load. But he's not alone. There are hundreds of others doing the same.At some places, traffic comes to a standstill. Who would not stop to look? During the Thaipusam Singapore Festival, drivers are unusually tolerant of slow-moving traffic.


Festivals and Events• Another cheeky Hindu

friend candidly shares a thought with me. She suspects the devotees are trying to outdo each other. Every year, it seems, the kavadis become more and more elaborate. I mean, "Who has the most beautiful kavadi?"A very interesting thought from a self-assured Hindu. As for me, I'd like to believe that most do it for their gods. See the Thaipusam Singapore Festival yourself and decide


Festivals and Events• Especially if they walk the

whole way with you to Tank Road, singing, chanting and cheering you on...

• Thaipusam Festival 2009 - Tips for TouristsHotels near the Thaipusam Festival: Park Royal on Kitchener Road – Albert Court Hotel – Perak Hotel

The preparations for the 'big day' actually begins the night before. Therefore, for Thaipusam Singapore 2009, you'll be able to see the prayers, burning of incense, et cetera, on the night of 7 Feb 09.



• Thaipusam Heritage CornerSingapore's Thaipusam Festival is rich with history and origin .The organisers feel it is important that devotees and tourists be well informed of the developments the annual festival has gone through over the years and the religious significance of the various stages of preparing for the thanks giving. A heritage corner has been set up at the field opposite to Serangoon Plaza and an exhibition will be on from 7th to 8th February 2009. We encourage everyone to visit the Heritage Corner and benefit from the information and displays.


• Thaipusam Festival 2009

SPIKE/CHARIOT KAVADI RECEIPTS Receipts for the following services will be sold from 30th January 2009 to 6th February 2009.

Amount ~ $120/-SSPT only 6.30pm to 9.00pm


• PLEASE NOTEDevotees carrying Spike / Chariot Kavadis are requested to enter SSPT via the Race Course Road entrance.

• 12.05am onwardsChariot Kavadis (green receipt)7.2.09Spike Kavadis -AM (blue receipt) 2.00pm to 6.00pmAfternoon Spike Kavadi carriers will he requested to pay a security deposit of S100/-.

• The deposit money will be refunded if the Kavadi carrier reaches STT before the stipulated time of 11.00pm on 8.2.2009 fixed by the Police authorities.

• If the Kavadi carrier fails to arrive within this time, their deposit would be forfeited.The closing date for issuing receipts for Spike / Chariot Kavadis will be 6.2.2009. Requests for Receipts after the closing date will he considered and issued subject to availability at an additional late registration fee of $50/-.


Chariot Kavadis



MILK POT/KAVADI RECEIPTS Devotees are requested to obtain receipts Tor the following services from 9th January 2009 to 8th February 2009. Type of ServiceAmountPlaceTimePaalkudam (Milk Pot)$12/-STT8.00am to 12.00noon5.30pm to 8.30pmSSPT8.30am to 9.00pmPaul Kavadi$25/-STT8.00am to 12.00noon5.30pm to 8.30pmSSPT8.30am to 9.00pmFor Paalkudams (milk pots), numbered stickers (2 pcs) will be provided. Kindly place one on your Paalkudam and produce the other to identify and collect your respective Kudam after the PaaI(Milk)Abishegam at STT. Devotees may wish to avoid the rush period taking of midnight to 1 am for Paalkudams. SPIKE/CHARIOT KAVADI RECEIPTS Receipts for the following services will be sold from 30th January 2009 to 6th February 2009. Type of ServiceAmountPlaceTimeSpike and Chariot Kavadis$120/-SSPT only6.30pm to 9.00pm


• Cultural Concerts - 7th & 8th February 2009

• Cultural concerts by well known artists from South India, Malaysia and Singapore will be held on 7th and 8th February 2009 evening at the field opposite to Serangoon Plaza.

• Thanks for Your Co-operationThe Organisers of the Thaipusam Festival, Sri Thendayuthapani Temple (STT) and Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (SSPT) would like to thank all devotees, their family members and Kavadi supporters for their utmost cooperation towards ensuring that the festival is observed and celebrated with the dignity and decorum that it deserves.


Thaipusam Festival 2009

MILK POT/KAVADI RECEIPTS

Devotees are requested to obtain receipts Tor the following services from 9th January 2009 to 8th February 2009. Type of ServiceAmountPlaceTimePaalkudam (Milk Pot)$12/-STT8.00am to 12.00noon5.30pm to 8.30pmSSPT8.30am to 9.00pmPaul Kavadi$25/-STT8.00am to 12.00noon5.30pm to 8.30pmSSPT8.30am to 9.00pmFor Paalkudams (milk pots), numbered stickers (2 pcs) will be provided. Kindly place one on your Paalkudam and produce the other to identify and collect your respective Kudam after the PaaI(Milk)Abishegam at STT. Devotees may wish to avoid the rush period taking of midnight to 1 am for Paalkudams. SPIKE/CHARIOT KAVADI



• GUIDELINES FOR DEVOTEES Devotees are kindly requested to observe the following guidelines:

• 1) Assemble your Kavadis at the designated area in SSPT.

2) Dismantle your Kavadis at the designated area in STT.

3) Spike / Chariot Kavadis will be tagged upon leaving SSPT. Kavadi bearers are to retain the tag on the Kavadis until they are removed by an official at STT. Kavadis without tags will not be allowed at STT.

4) Thaal Alagu (Spears) shall not exceed 300mm in length.

5) Please note that in compliance with the Police Permit, SSPT doors will be closed at 6 pm and STT doors will be closed at 11 pm on 8-2-09. All devotees are requested to adhere to the timings strictly.



• GUIDELINES FOR DEVOTEES

6) Only traditional musical instruments such as Nathaswaram and Thavil will be allowed in SSPT and STT. As per Police regulation, there will be no instrumental music permitted along the procession route. All freelance musicians are required to register at SSPT on Thaipusam day.

7) Urumi Melam: The use of Urumi Melam is not in keeping with the traditions and practices of our Temples and as such we would appreciate if the Kavadi bearers refrain from using them.

• PLEASE NOTEDevotees carrying Spike / Chariot Kavadis are requested to enter SSPT via the Race Course Road entrance.VOWSEntering SSPT



• HEAD SHAVING AT SRI THENDAYUTHAPANI TEMPLEThe following arrangements for Devotees to fulfil their "Head Shaving” vows will be made at the vicinity of Teochew Building. (next to STT).DateTime 29.1.09 to 6.2.097.00am to 11.00am &3.00pm to 8.00pm

• All devotees7.2.097.00am to 11.00am only8.2.09• 7.00am to 11.00am &

3.00pm to 8.00pm• For children only • SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS AT SSPT

Devotees could seek the following services (if available) at SSPT:-(1) Nathaswaram/Thavil to perform for a fee before commencement of their Kavadi / Paalkudam processions. Kindly make your bookings at the temple office early.

(2) Free Volunteer Service (Subject to Availability)To Pierce the "Spike" (Vel / Alagu) on participating devotees who are in need of such assistance.



• (3) Kavadi Songs : For Kavadi bearers who need assistance with "Kavadi Chindhu" during the preparatory and upto the procession stage, groups who are competent in rendering Kavadi songs will be available to offer their services. Kavadi bearers can book the services of these groups when they obtain their Kavadi receipts at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.

• (NB: For this service, please liaise with the SSPT office).• • VIEWING GALLERY

Tents will be erected along Selegie Road for all Devotees / Visitors to sit and view the Kavadi processions conveniently.


• SPECIAL EVENTS AT SRI THENDAYUTHAPANI TEMPLESaturday 7th February 2009 ~ Silver Chariot ProcessionSilver Chariot procession of Lord Muruga from Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. Tank Road will commence at 5.00 am and stop at the following locations:-

• Chariot stopping point


• SPECIAL EVENTS AT SRI THENDAYUTHAPANI TEMPLEApproximate Time

• Sri Mariamman Temple South Bridge Road 6.30am


• Start of Chariot procesion – River valley road near clarke quay MRT

• Sri THENDAYUTHAPANI TEMPLE

• End point of Kavadi – River valley road near clarke quay MRT

• SPECIAL EVENTS AT SRI THENDAYUTHAPANI TEMPLE



• Sri Mariamman Temple South Bridge Road 6.30am


• Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple Keong Saik Road• 7.30am• The Chariot procession will resume from Layan Sithi Vinayagar

Temple at 6.00 pm on the same day and enroute along following locations subjected to Procession Permit.

• Chariot passing point



• Bank of India Robinson Road• 6.45pm• Indian Overseas Bank

Cecil Street (Subject to changes)• 7.00pm• Indian Bank D'Almedia Street• 7.15pm• Returning to

Sri Thendayuthapani Temple• 9.00pm • Sunday 8th February 2009

• ANNATHANAM AT SRI THENDAYUTHAPANI TEMPLEAnnathanam will be provided from 12.30noon to 3.00pm. PROCESSION OF LORD MURUGA AT STTProcession of Lord Muruga on "Golden Peacock Vaganam” within the Temple precinct will be held at 5.00 pm.

maple thaipusam 2009 mine

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