Thaipusam - Festival of Faith

• Photographer
  Shyamala Thilagaratnam
• Prize
  Bronze in People / Culture

Thaipusam, a Hindu festival, celebrates the deity Lord Murugan’s victory over evil.He is also THE dispenser of favors & devotees give thanks for prayers answered.The most extreme form of this gratitude has devotees walking ~4KM in a trance-like state carrying a structure with hooks & lances embedded in their torsos. The preparation itself is a spiritual experience, as spikes are carefully attached to flesh, no blood in sight, each devotee in their meditative bubble.Thaipusam is also about love & support.Each devotee had at least 1 person in their corner; many had a small army to cheer them on.