Thaipusam festival goes smoothly amid heightened Novel coronavirus alert
Thaipusam this year was a little different, with temperature screening machines placed at temple entrances and extra washing points added
With the raising of the risk assessment level of the novel coronavirus situation here, several events in Singapore have been cancelled.
Yet others, such as the annual Thaipusam festival, still went on, albeit with more precautionary measures such as temperature screening this year.
Some of the cancelled events include: the People’s Association’s Chingay 2020@Heartlands, all programmes by Special Olympics Singapore, as well as the Harley-Davidson of Singapore night ride.
Devotees turn up for Thaipusam procession, temples take extra measures
The religious procession drew some 11,500 devotees - the highest participation rate since 2013, in part helped by Thaipusam falling on a weekend.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Stepped up precautionary measures in light of the coronavirus outbreak did little to dampen the mood for thousands of Hindu devotees, who turned out to seek blessings and fulfill their vows in this year's Thaipusam festival.
The presence of signs reminding people who are unwell not to enter temple premises, as well as thermal scanners and sanitisers were signs that this year's Thaipusam was slightly different from previous years.
But the religious procession went on as usual otherwise and drew some 11,500 devotees - the highest participation rate since 2013, in part helped by Thaipusam falling on a weekend.
Thaipusam
Hindu devotees dance with heavy and prickly kavadis decorated with flowers and peacock feathers and pour life-giving milk to honour Murugan
Thaipusam is a religious celebration held by devotees of Singapore's Tamil community. Its highlight is a barefoot walk of devotees carrying milk pots and dancing with prickly kavadis decorated with flowers and peacock feathers, that weigh up to 80 kg. All that is done to honor Lord Subramaniam or Murugan, who is known as the destroyer of evil.
Milk symbolizes abundance and fertility, whereas thorny kavadis, literally translated as "sacrifice at every step", contributes to the month-long vegetarian trial, as the devotees follow the conviction that mind and body should be free of any extra pleasures, but rather undergo sufferings in order to get rid of the evil and rebirth into the good.
Ritual celebration lasts for two days. On the second day, the devotees chant glorifying songs to Lord Murugan, while carrying milk pots. The procession winds its way along 4.5 kilometres, beginning from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple and finishing at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, where the milk is finally poured over from the pots on the statue of the Lord Murugan.
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