This one’s not for the faint hearted!

The Hindu festival of Thaipusam is about faith, endurance and penance. It’s a highly colourful, event which can stretch for 3 or 4 days and is in honour the Hindu God, Lord Murugan. 

More on Thaipusam by Somewhere in the world today…

Picture: Thaipusam by williamcho, on Flickr

Look away if you are squeamish, this one’s not for the faint hearted!

The Hindu festival of Thaipusam is about faith, endurance and penance. It’s a highly colourful, event which can stretch for 3 or 4 days and is in honour the Hindu God, Lord Murugan. On the day of the festival, devotees will cleanse themselves, shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route whilst carrying various types of kavadi (burdens) as an act of devotion to Murugan. At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but piercing of the flesh (mostly tongue or cheeks) with vel skewers or spears is also common. 

More on Thaipusam by Somewhere in the world today…

(Source: journeyismyhome)

placefaraway:

Hardcore piercing.  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The tradition of body torturing for the sake of pleasing gods exists in many cultures. Tamils who originate from Southern India and Sri Lanka pierce themselves once a year for the Thaipusam festival. They believe that gods helped their prayers come true. This guy apparently was exceptionally pleased by gods the year before.

(Source: placefaraway)

(via Thaipusam - a gallery on Flickr)

Ouch! The Hindu festival of Thaipusam in January / February is about faith, endurance and penance in honour the Hindu God, Lord Murugan.