Thaipusam

Thaipusam
Thaipusam
	Chariot of Murugan during Thaipusam festivities in Malaysia
Observed by	Primarily Tamil Hindus in India, Sri Lanka, South East 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 with Pushya star in the month of Thai
2023 date	Sunday, 5 February
2024 date	Thursday, 25 January

Thaipusam or Thaipoosam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம், romanized: Taippūcam) 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, South East Asia notably in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, other countries with significant Tamil diaspora like Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa and Canada, Caribbean countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname, and in countries with significant Indian migrants including United States and Australia. It is a public holiday in Mauritius, select states in Malaysia and in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.