Thaipusam is a festival celebrated by the Tamil and Malayali communities on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). It commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a Vel "spear" so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.

Devotees prepare for the celebration by keeping their body always clean, doing regular prayers, following vegetarian diet and fasting for 48 days before Thaipusam.

On the day of the festival, devotees shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route, while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (decorated canopy). At its simplest, devotees can carry a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common. Kavadi-bearers have to perform elaborate ceremonies and dances.

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