SINGAPORE/MALAYSIA: HINDU DEVOTEES IN SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA CELEBRATE THE ANNUAL THAIPUSAM FESTIVAL
Record ID:
328569
SINGAPORE/MALAYSIA: HINDU DEVOTEES IN SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA CELEBRATE THE ANNUAL THAIPUSAM FESTIVAL
- Title: SINGAPORE/MALAYSIA: HINDU DEVOTEES IN SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA CELEBRATE THE ANNUAL THAIPUSAM FESTIVAL
- Date: 17th January 1995
- Summary: SINGAPORE AND KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (JANUARY 17, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) SINGAPORE 1. SV CROWDS GATHERING 0.05 2. SV MAN WITH SKEWERS PARADING THROUGH STREETS 0.15 3. CU MAN WALKING ON SHOES WITH NAILS 0.22 4. SV MAN CARRYING FRAME 0.29 5. SCU WOMAN WITH HOOKS IN FACE 0.32 6. SV OLD WOMAN BEING SMEARED WITH POWDER 0.40 7. SV MAN CARRYING FRAME DANCING IN STREET 0.49 8. SV CHILD CARRYING FRAME BEDECKED WITH GARLANDS 0.53 9. SV MAN WITH SKEWER THROUGH MOUTH (4 SHOTS) 1.11 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA 10. SV YOUNG BOY SITTING ON KAVADIS AS MAN TOWS IT TO TEMPLE 1.17 11. SV DETAIL OF MAN'S BACK WITH HOOKS THROUGH FLESH AND SKIN 1.25 12. SV VARIOUS MEN WALKING ALONG ROAD, ONE WITH SKEWER IN MOUTH (2 SHOTS) 1.30 13. SV MAN DANCING 1.40 14. SV PEOPLE CLIMBING TOWARD CAVES 2.01 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 1st February 1995 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SINGAPORE/ KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- City:
- Country: Singapore ASIA Malaysia
- Reuters ID: LVA4J4BM4LZYVFXILYJTZ3KX3Q9Q
- Story Text: Hindu devotees in Singapore and Malaysia celebrated the annual Thaipusam festival in a ritual of pain and penance on Tuesday (January 17).
In Singapore, scores of worshippers, some with finger-thick skewers stuck through their cheeks, others bearing massive wooden frames attached by metal stakes to their flesh, paraded through the streets of the city.
For three days from Monday (January 16) devotees gather to celebrate the centuries-old festival of Thaipusam.
Some devotees carried the frames or kavadis -- which can reach heights of three metres (10 feet) -- mounted with elaborate decorations including peacock feathers and the image of the Hindu god, Lord Subramaniam, whom the festival honours.
Others had their entire backs embedded with steel hooks or walked on shoes embedded with nails.
The devotees are said to apparently experience little pain or injury.
Their penance actually started more than one month ago. All must go through a month of fasting, prayers and sexual abstinence before they are ready to take part in the festival, Hindu priests say.
In Malaysia, worshippers celebrated the festival at the Batu (stone) caves.
With Tamil music blaring over loudspeakers, thousands took a ritual bath before priests induced trances and pierced their bodies.
The climax of their celebration is a gruelling 272-step climb to the temple inside the limestone caves where their instruments of pain are removed by priests and they are smeared with holy ash.
Thaipusam is celebrated throughout Malaysia but the largest congregations take place at the Batu Caves and on Penang Island.
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