THAIPUSAM 2009 in TAWAU TOWN

Sunday, 09 February, 2020 09:40:40 PM

Places of worship in Tawau Division > Hinduism > Thaipusam > Thaipusam 2009

...a day of consecration for Hindus...

T H A I P U S A M
8 Feb 2009 Tawau

Thaipusam in Hindu Religion is :
... when body piercing equals to devotion
... celebration of good winning over evil
... return thanks to Lord Murugan for good that has come their way over difficult times
... pray for good health and prosperity of the family

Chariot and Temple of Lord Murugan

The festivities end on the evening when the impressive Chariot bearing the image of Murugan, is slowly driven from the Temple on a couple hours of procession on the main road in front the temple.

The process of Lord's chariot engaging atmosphere of faith and devotion. Hundreds of devotees flock peacefully around the gleaming chariot, carrying trays of offerings - flowers, fruits, betel-leaves, coconuts - amid undulating music of an Indian piper and his drummer.
Little children are lifted up to the idol in the chariot for the priest to invoke the deity's blessings; jasmine garlands passed along up to be placed on the idol; wisps of incense smoke, fragrance of rosewater; and chants. All these amid a sea of devotion and equanimity.
Devotees came as far from Kunak and Lahad Datu. Many observe a strict vegetarian diet for 40 days and renounce all forms of pleasure-giving activities. The 40 days are spent in meditation and prayer.

THIRUMURUGAN TEMPLE of Tawau, Mile 2 Jalan Utara, design follows that of South Indian temples, is Sabah's oldest Hindu Temple.

Chariot of Lord Muruga

Festivities are meant to spill out of doors, into full public view, like the procession of Lord Muruga on 8th February 2008 when devotees of Sabah's most important Hindu temple tow a chariot bearing an idol of Lord Muruga through the night street of Tawau.
Thaipusam is a Hindu religious festival that commemorates the birthday of Lord Muruga, and also the celebration of his parents presenting to him the vel (lance) in order for him to vanquish the evil. The festival is celebrated mostly by the Indian community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai. The full moon of Thai in Tamil calendar usually falls between the end of January or beginning of February.

A Kavadi devotee bless a follower as the Kavadi procession proceed slowly from Tawau River at Tengku Osman Road to THIRUMURUGAN TEMPLE at Jalan Utara, Tawau.

Hindu's Thaipusam is celebrated each year in Tawau Town by the Indian community in Sabah. Celebration events are organized by Tawau Indian Hindu Temple Association.

During Thaipusam, devotees go through a physical endurance of being skewered and pierced on the back and front of their bodies by hooks with miniature urns as an act of penance.
Majority of the devotees who go through this act are Indians but Chinese, Sikh and other visitors can also be seen taking part in this act of faith which leaves many devotees and observers alike, spiritually transformed.

THAIPUSAM 2009 KAVADI PROCESSION

Devotees smash coconut as an act of fulfilling vows

As the chariot pulled by devotees slowly lunges forward, a frenzy of coconut smashing ensues before the sacred deity.
It is a tradition for Hindu devotees to smash coconuts on the road along the path the chariot carrying the statue of Lord Murugan during the procession. Hindus believe that breaking of coconuts is one of the ways to invoke the blessings of Lord Murugan.
During the procession, many devotees wait patiently to have their glimpses of the sacred idol of Lord Murugan.

Indian families give out bottled water, fruits, sweet, buns and prepared sweetened and sour rice to devotees and visitors.