It has been a long time since I have sent my random ramblings, have tried to blog about the fantastic five weeks I spent in Melbourne, however had some writer’s block in that regard.
Greetings all Happy New Year, somewhat belated to everyone hope your Christmas festive season was all that you wanted it to be.
It has been a busy time with us with an even more jam packed program of social occasions and new friends. Over the New Year period we had Kirsten here for a holiday and we were able to revisit some favourite places in this our new home. My inspiration for writing this is the Southern Indian Festival called Thaipusam.
On a recent trip to little India, we were there during the Pungol, or harvest festival, coloured lights and street decorations were bountiful. The sight of several cows penned in this busy city scape was quite surprising too.
The culmination of the festival is called Thaipusam. This is a procession which involves devotees of Hinduism, fasting for weeks and then going into a trance like state, and doing penance by attaching kadavis or bright coloured contraptions to their skin with all manner of hooks and arrows.
This festival is banned by the Indian government but in the way of those who immigrate to new countries, the devotees continue this tradition annually in Singapore. The act is considered to be an offering to the Gods to assist with ill health in the family favourable exam results and such.
The devotee needs to have support from extended family as the process of getting strapped into the kadavis is long and slow and needs much assistance from others.
The Devotees are always men and they travel barefoot five kilometres with the weight of the huge decorated kadavis from one temple to another.
As they prepare for there trek bands of Bhangras or drummers fill the air with the ritualised sounds of the single drums. Incense swirls and cloaks the air in a thick fug of atmosphere and sensory overload. Crowds gather to look in amazement as men are pierced with hooks and arrows in readiness for there journey.
Groups of devotees are surrounded by family and friends, the women in amazing colourful saris and Punjab suits. There is a plethora of peacock feathers used in the decorations as the tail feather is seen to ward off evil much like an evil eye. Decorations are often gold or silver and the devotee will usually make the trek at least 3 times to thank the Gods Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The main man is often clothed in saffron which ranges from the shortest shorts to a dhoti or sarong like cloth draped over there bodies.
As the walker makes his journey his family and friends walk with him to assist and help support the tremendous weight of the huge encumbering decorations.
Many people have shaved heads, both old and young covered in gold paint in support of the festival. It truly was an amazing spectacle.
Kafil and I along with friends Pam and Mike joined a tour taken by the Australian expat group ANZA. It was interesting to hear our tour guide Geraldine talk of the traditions and reasons for this most disturbing of festivals. Next year we will probably head in by ourselves but it was great to get some background into the festival. Some of the photos were taken from the bus, but most were on ground level as we rubbed shoulders with the devotees families and other spectators.
I will sign off now, and hope to have a new update soon.
Love to all
Kerri and Kafil
