A expensive of colour and flame lit in the centre of Penang. After a prolonged outbreak silence, the nature of celebration had been reignited in the Malaysian island’s Tamil local community with the return associated with two traditional Hindu ceremonies.
Today over 2 million Tamils are estimated to live in Malaysia. They take pride in partying a pair of annual spiritual events with excitement unmatched anywhere outdoors India.
Thaipusam, famous in late January or early February based on the lunar calendar, entails devotees giving due to Hindu god Lord Murugan, the child of Shiva.
The Thaipusam ceremony involves piercing skin, tongues and cheeks along with hundreds of hooks plus vel skewers, a form of ancient Tamil spear. Adherents also participate in a long, barefoot pilgrimage carrying kavadi , or even burdens, which can include containers of milk or heavy pieces of wood and steel or performing acts such as shaving their own heads and holding fire pots throughout the walk.
In Malaysia, the celebrations occur in Kuala Lumpur’s Batu caves, Penang and Ipoh, where a large number of worshippers and vistors gather around temples or wats and along the pilgrimage paths.
A second principal celebration for Tamils is Thimithi. Kept on weekends at the end of May or earlier June, Thimithi traditions involve walking more than burning charcoal pathways of 6 in order to 10 metres (19 to 32 feet). A cooling whole milk bath for the feet follows each stroll.
Devotees conduct additional practices including consuming spoiled rice, holding earthen pots full of burning firewood plus moving around a temple by foot, on their legs or by moving on the ground.
The Thimithi ritual can be considered a test of faith, purity, sincerity, honor and strength and is currently incorporated as part of the annual celebration from the Tamil goddesses Kaliamman and Mariamman. You will find no rules about individual actions throughout the ceremony. The most important worth is pureness of intention, which will be reciprocated in benefits by the goddesses.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, visitors and photographers came from around the globe to witness the unique events. For the past two years, the particular celebrations were stopped, cutting off a type of worship for Tamil congregations.
The first wedding ceremony in Malaysia rebooting the traditions took place in June in the Mutthalamman temple in Penang. Combining fire walking with a ‘mini-Thaipusam’ offering, those existing witnessed extraordinary rituals accompanied by traditional bands.
Photographer and reporter Philippe Durant was on site at Penang’s Mutthalamman and Sri Ambakarthur Patrakaliamman temples to catch the spark from the newly reintroduced festivities.
Introduction by Amanda Oon
The first ceremony in Malaysia restarting the traditions took place within June at the particular Mutthalamman temple in Penang. Combining fireplace walking with a “mini-Thaipusam” offering, those present the opportunity to witness outstanding rituals accompanied by traditional bands.
For the initial day, devotees were blessed by the “ pujari , a Hindu clergyman, before walking to the temple. One at that time, worshippers walked in the fire as a give up for the Gods. “We have been waiting for this particular moment for over 2 yrs. Finally, we can commemorate our gods, ” said Murali Dharan, a member of the local Annai Drew Mutthalamman Community.
On the second night, worshipers of Lord Murugan purified them selves by bathing before allowing their bodies to become pierced with countless hooks. They wandered towards the temple with another adherent pulling strings attached to some of the piercings.
The main temple in Penang island, Sri Ambakarthur Patrakaliamman, was a venue for the annual fire walk later on that week.
Before the firewalking, The Sakthi Karagam, the priest leading the ceremony, slaughter a goat. Whilst celebrations took place, the particular blood of the animal was cooked along with rice. At midnight, one more ritual started whereby the priest, possessed by the goddess, transported the cooked grain and ran to the nearby river. After losing conscience plus power, he had been carried back to the particular temple by followers.
