THAIPUSAM 2011 chariot procession

Last update on 12th January 2014 SUN 1:16PM

The 3 main events in a yearly THAIPUSAM in Tawau Town, Sabah
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POOJA	KAVADI PROCESSION	CHARIOT PROCESSION
Pūjā ( Pooja, पूजा) (Sanskrit: reverence, honour, adoration, or worship) A religious ritual performed by Hindus as an offering to various deities, distinguished persons, or special guests.	In a Kavadi procession, there are 3 category of Kavadi carried by devotees: 1) Heavy weight Kavadi 2) Medium weight Kavadi 3) Basic weight Kavadi	Chariot (Temple Car) is used to carry representations of a Hindu god on festival days, when many people pull the cart.

THAIPUSAM 2011
CHARIOT PROCESSION AT
THIRUMURUGAN TEMPLE
Tawau Town 20 January 2011

Tawau Indian Hindu Temple Association
Mile 2, Jalan Utara, Tawau

Yearly chariot procession during Thaipusam at THIRUMURUGAN TEMPLE

This festival of rich culture and deep tradition is an 'out of this world' experience which draws a massive crowd each year in this little known sleepy town in Malaysia.

TEMPLE FESTIVAL PROGRAMMES

Devotees are kindly requested to offer Milk, Fruits and Young Coconuts for the abishegam.
Donation in cash or kind will be greatly appreciated. May the Grace of Lord Muruga Bless you & your Family

Kanthan Paatham Kanavillum Tunnaiseyum

Pūjā ( Pooja) (Devanagari: पूजा)
(Sanskrit: reverence, honor, adoration, or worship)

Pooja is a Hindu religious ritual as an offering to various deities, distinguished persons, or special guests.
It is done on a variety of occasions and settings, from daily puja done in the home, to temple ceremonies and large festivals, or to begin a new venture.

Puja is modeled on the idea of giving a gift or offering to a deity or important person and receiving their blessing.

The two main areas where puja is performed is in the home and at public temples. There are many variations in scale, offering, and ceremony.

10.01.2011 Monday
3.00 p.m.	Vikneswarar Pooja, Punyagavahanam, Maha Ganapathy Homam Anugnyai, Vaasthu Santhi. Deeparathanai, Prasatham

11.01.2011 Tuesday
9.30 a.m.	Vikneswarar Pooja. Punyagavahanam. Srumahabishegam, Rashapanthanam, Deeparathanai, Prasatham
6.30 p.m.	Special Pooja
7.00 p.m.	Vasantha Mandapa Special Pooja
8.00 p.m.	Thuvarohanam, Navasanthi Pali Thiruvula

12 to 19.01.2011 Wednesday to Wednesday
3.00 p.m.	Vikneswarar Pooja, Punyagavahanam, Kumba Pooja, Mahabishegam, Poornahuthi, Deeparathanai
6.30 p.m.	Special Pooja
7.00 p.m.	Dwajasthamba Pooja
8.00 p.m.	Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Thiruvula, Deeparathanai, Prasatham

20.01.2011 Thursday (Thaipoosam)
6.30 a.m.	Vikneswarar Pooja, Punyagavahanam, Sangalpam, Navothirasatha Sangabishekam, Paal Kudam, Mahabishegam, Poornahuthi, Deeparathanai, Prasatham
1.00 p.m.	Maheswarar Pooja, Annathaanam
5.00 p.m.	Special Pooja, Dwajasthamba Pooja
6.30 p.m.	Vasantha Mandapa Pooja (Ritual at Temple Main Hall), Chariot Procession, Deeparathanai, Prasatham

21.01.2011 Friday
3.00 p.m.	Vikneswarar Pooja. Punyagavahanam, Kumba Pooja, Mahabishegam, Poornahuthi, Deeparathanai
6.30 p.m.	Special Pooja, Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Theertha Thiruvizha, Dwajasthamba Pooja, Dwavarohanam, Sandeswarar Pooja, Mangala Deeparathanai, Prasatham

22.02.2011 Saturday
3.00 p.m.	Vikneswarar Pooja,, Punyagavahanam, Prayachitha Abishegam
6.30 p.m.	Special Pooja, Unjal Ceremony.

Smashing of Coconuts
Old coconuts are smashed along the road where the Chariot would pass.

Coconuts breaking as a form of thanksgiving. The coconut water is meant to wash clean the road before Lord Murugan's Chariot pass.

Thaipusam celebration in Malaysia is much grander and joyer than the ones in India. Thaipusam in Malaysia is more colorful with people from other races and cultures participating together.
Thaipusam tradition was brought to the Malay Peninsula through the South Indian Hindu during the 19th century. The festival has since evolved and grown so big in Malaysia and Singapore that it has now far outsized celebrations in India.

After offering thanksgiving prayers and penance to Lord Muruga, the status is taken to the chariot scheduled for a return trip starting from the temple to round about at Old Tawau Airport.

Thunderous loud singing, dancing and beating of drums of devotional songs by their supporters can heard far and wide throughout the entire vicinity of the festival.

The highlight of Thaipusam Celebration is a pilgrimage procession to bring the statue of Lord Muruga on a colorful chariot led by more then hundred for a round rout from the temple to Tawau Old Airport round about.
This length of road was shut completely for 4 hours to traffic for the procession.

Thaipusam is celebrated during the full moon of the 10th month in the Hindu calendar normally between last week of January and 1st week of February, depending on the alignment of the sun, moon and planets.
Lord Muruga represents virtue, youth and power.
Photo right : Devotees lining up waiting for turn to make offerings to Lord Murugan before the Lord's chariot departs.