Thaipoosam Cavadee, the major celebration of the Tamil calendar, was celebrated with great fervour last Tuesday. Long processions of devotees walked under the blazing sun towards the temples with their cavadees on their shoulders. The multicoloured crowd accompanying them moved slowly, to the rhythm of religious songs coming from loud- speakers on a vehicle.

The festival, an expression of devotion to Lord Muruga, is spectacular: cheeks pierced with needles, weighted hooks hanging from nipples and tongues pierced with iron bars are all variations on the theme of religious penance, gratitude and self-transcendence as expressed by the participants through their bodies.

<B>Fasting dispels negative feelings</B>

Most of the faithful are dressed in bright fuchsia-pink, while some men are stripped to the waist, their foreheads, shoulders, backs and chests smeared with sacred ashes. These acts are performed as gratitude for all the wishes and prayers that have been fulfilled throughout the year, as well as to show their devotion to Lord Muruga. Devotees transport containers of milk on their flower-adorned wooden yokes, which many have made themselves.

This celebration is the culmination of a 10-day fasting period. The faithful must purify soul and body, whilst dispelling hatred, passion, arrogance and envy. Abstinence and prayer should be the main rules of life. All those who wish to participate in the Cavadee must prepare physically and spiritually for this magnificent yet testing festival. On the eve of the celebration, pilgrims make their cavadees or help their relatives to do so with bamboo sticks, flowers and wood. Cans of milk and religious images are placed on the cavadees as a tribute to Muruga.

Cavadee takes place three times a year but the most important festival is the one celebrated last week? Thaipoosam Cavadee!