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Bronze 2023 People / Culture

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.

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