Thaipusam

Thaipusam
Chariot of Murugan during Thaipusam festivities in Malaysia
Observed by	Primarily Tamil Hindus in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Caribbean, Mauritius, Fiji, South Africa and United States
Type	Hindu
Significance	Commemoration of Murugan's victory over Surapadman
Celebrations	Kavadi Aattam
Date	First full moon coinciding with Pusa nakshatra in the Tamil month of Thai
2023 date	Sunday, 5 February
2024 date	Thursday, 25 January

Part of the series on
Kaumaram
Deities Murugan (Kartikeya) Parents Shiva Parvati Brother Ganesha Consorts Devasena Valli
Symbols Vel Cock flag Peacock
Texts and scriptures Kanda Shasti Kavasam Skanda Purana Tiruppukal Tirumurukarruppatai
Six sacred abodes Palani Pazhamudircholai Swamimalai Thiruchendur Thiruparankundram Thiruttani
Other temples Nallur Kandaswamy temple Batu Caves Chennimalai Ghati Subramanya Kalugasalamoorthy Kukke Subramanya Kunnakudi Maruthamalai Pachaimalai Sikkal Thindalmalai Viralimalai Vallakkottai Vadapalani Vayalur
Festivals Chitra Pournami Kandha Sashti Karthikai Deepam Kartika Purnima Panguni Uthiram Thaipusam Vaikasi Visakam
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Thaipusam or Thaipoosam (Tamil: Taippūcam, IPA: [t̪əjppuːsəm]) is a Tamil Hindu festival celebrated on the first full moon day of the Tamil month of Thai coinciding with Pusam star. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Hindu god Murugan over the demon Surapadman. During the battle, Murugan is believed to have wielded a vel, a divine spear granted by his mother, Parvati.

The festival includes ritualistic practices of Kavadi Aattam, a ceremonial act of sacrifice carrying a physical burden as a means of balancing a spiritual debt. Worshipers often carry a pot of cow milk as an offering and also do mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers. Devotees prepare for the rituals by keeping clean, doing regular prayers, following a vegetarian diet and fasting while remaining celibate.

Thaipusam is observed by Tamils in India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia notably in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. It is also observed by other countries with significant Tamil diaspora like Fiji, Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa, Canada, the Caribbean countries including Trinidad and Tobago, and in countries with significant Indian migrants like the United States. It is a public holiday in Mauritius, select states in Malaysia and in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.