Thaipusam Celebration in Chennai

Thaipusam is a very famous festival in Tamilnadu that is celebrated in Murugan temple. Thaipusam can also be said as one of the most important festival for the Murugan devotees. There is a very strong history behind the celebration of Thaipusam every year in the Tamil Month Thai. According to the English calendar this festival is celebrated in the month of February every year based on the occurring of Pusa Nakshatra that comes. The start day of Thai month is celebrated as the Pongal festival in Tamilnadu. According to the Tamil calendar, Thai Pusam is celebrated on the date when Pusa Nakshatra or Star comes during the month of Thai. The other most interesting factor about the Thai Pusam festival celebration is vanquishing of the demon Soorapadman. The holy beautiful Hindu god muruga will be decorated attractively on this day in all the temples. There will also be special pooja performed in the temples in this day for Lord Muruga.

Why is Thai Pusam Celebrated?

As we all know about demons who disturb innocent people and god will vanquish the demons and restore peace to the people. In this manner there was once a demon named Sorapadman. He got a boon from Lord Shiva that he should not be killed by any being except the one that comes from Lord Shiva Himself. He was very happy that there is no possibility for something like that to happen and declared himself as immortal. Later he started to torture the people by his demonic activities. All the people and devas from all the world went to Lord Shiva to find some solution to stop Surapadma. Listening to the requests of Rishis, Devas and innocent people, Lord Shiva created Lord Muruga. Lord Muruga was created with the help of the powers of Lord Shiva from his third eye.

Lord Muruga was then taken care by six Karthigai Pengal as he was born in six forms in six lotus flower. When Lord Muruga went to battle with Surapadma, he defeated all his army and killed his brothers too. Finally Surapadma understood that his death is near. So he stood as a giant tree in front of Lord Muruga. To destroy the tree Lord Muruga gained help from the divine mother Parvathi or Sakthi. Thai Pusam is the day in which Lord Muruga was given the Vel by Sakthi to destroy Surapadma. Muruga launched Vel or Velayudham on Surapadma who stood as a tree. The tree was cut into two pieces. Later the tree parts were taken by Lord Muruga as the Seval Kodi and Peacock which is his ambassador. From the day of Surapadman's death Thai Pusam festival is celebrated all over the world. There are many rituals practiced in Thai Pusam festival. This festival is practiced by the Hindus from the olden days till now.

Thai Pusam celebration in Murugan temples

People offer their happiness to Lord Muruga by celebrating Lord Muruga with full decorations. After the decorations Lord Muruga will be taken to the streets to offer blessings to every individual house. People also take Kavadi and insert Vel in their body parts to offer their devotion to Lord Muruga. Kavadi dance is the most special dance that is performed in front of Lord Muruga during the Thai Pusam festival. People will perform the Kavadi dance by inserting Vel in the tongue. When they are completely devoted to Lord Muruga they will not even feel the pain in their tongue because of the Vel that is inserted. This symbolizes that the perfect dedication to God will definitely heal all the pains and give glory to the life. Generally the Kavadi is taken for many reasons such as for self or for the good of the world or for some other person. People believe that taking Kavadi for someone will fulfill our desire if we do it with proper dedication.

Apart from these celebrations, on the day of Thai Pusam the decoration for Lord Muruga will start early morning after different Abhishega that is done to him. During the time of Abhishega the devotees will chant Skandha Shasti Kavasam and also other mantras that are dedicated to lord muruga. The mantras that are chanted before Lord Muruga will also make him extra happy. Many temples in Tamilnadu celebrate Thai Posam in a very grand manner. There will also be demonstrations or a drama displayed to the public on how Lord Muruga killed Surapadma with the help of the Sakthi Vel given by Parvathi to him.

Thaipusam Celebration in Chennai