A blend of the month of Thai and the star, Pusam, Thaipusam takes place on the full moon day in the Tamil month, typically in the month of January or February.

Thaipusam is celebrated by the Tamil community in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, Singapore and Mauritius. It is a colourful Hindu festival where devotees pierce themselves with pins and spikes, hang pots and fruit off of their chests with hooks.

Penang Thaipusam is a three-day celebration that sees devotees clad in yellow and saffron, bearing milk pots on their heads or kavadis with body and facial piercings, seeking blessings, fulfilling vows and offering thanks to Lord Murugan.

The Thaipusam tradition was brought to Penang through the South Indian diaspora during the late 18th century.

Thaipusam celebration in Penang is not only celebrated by the Indians but also participated by other races, notably the Chinese.

People take part in Thaipusam for different reasons. Some to give thanks for a miracle which has happened in their lives, others to ask for a wish to be granted or to rid themselves of their sins by carrying burdens and piercing their bodies.

The Penang Thaipusam procession begins in the wee hours of the morning at :
Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Lebuh Queen and,
Kovil Veedu in Lebuh Penang

Penang Thaipusam features two chariots :
Silver chariot - carries the statue of Lord Murugan
Golden chariot - carries the vel (spear)

Although starting and ending at different temples, the chariots share the same 6.6 km procession route which takes more than half a day to complete.

The golden chariot departs from the Sri Mahamariamman Temple at 6am and arrives at the Arulmigu Sri Ganeshar Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga.

Meanwhile, the silver chariot departs from the Kovil Veedu Temple at 7am and arrives at the Nattukotai Chettiar Templein in Jalan Kebun Bunga.

Hence,

Golden chariot (carries the vel) :
starting Sri Mahamariamman Temple / ending Arulmigu Sri Ganeshar Temple

Silver chariot (carries statue of Lord Murugan) :
starting Kovil Veedu Temple / ending Nattukotai Chettiar Templein

The procession passes along :
Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Chulia, Lebuh Victoria, Jalan Magazine, Jalan Datuk Keramat, Jalan Utama and finally Jalan Kebun Bunga, where the Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani Waterfall Hilltop Temple is located.

Devotees must climb 512 steps to reach the Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani Waterfall Hilltop Temple.

As pilgrimage moves through the streets, rhythmic dancing, chanting and drumming can be seen and heard throughout the procession route.

Along the journey, devotees and visitors will pass by :
Sri MuthuMariamman Temple at Lorong Kulit and,
Shree Muniswarar Temple at Jalan Kebun Bunga.

The piercing ritual is carried out at these temples. The best time to observe the ritual is on the eve of Thaipusam at night or on Thaipusam day from morning until evening.

On the eve of Thaipusam, devotees from the Penang Chettiar community take the kavadis on a procession, known as the Chetti Pusam, from the Nagarathar Sivan Temple at Jalan Dato Keramat to the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga.

The kavadi varies in size and can weigh as much as 100 kg. It is a semicircular, decorated canopy supported by a wooden or metal arch. The kavadi is attached onto a person via a series of hooks and spears.

Smashing coconuts is another ritual during the procession. Worshipers throwing coconuts onto the ground, smashing them with great force and splattering them all over the street. The act of smashing a coconut abruptly signifies making a wish for future betterment. It also suggests bad luck from the past is throw away .

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