Thai Poosam Kavady
The Springs Tamil Associastion recently held a celebration for Thai Poosam Kavady at the Shree Sithhi Vinayagar Alayam Temple in Bakerton.
The celebration took place on January 16 and started at 5pm.
Devotees of the Tamil faith arrived at the Vishveshwar Mandir grounds, with the women wearing brightly coloured saris.
The purpose of this festival is to express mass devotion to Lord Muruga, the Hindu deity of knowledge and wisdom.
Devotees decorate wooden structures known as Kavady to give thanks to Lord Muruga or to ask him for help in overcoming a problem.
The use of the Kavady originated from the legend of Iduman, a disciple of Agasthiyai who was asked to carry two hills.
The hills represent the two inherent forces in all human beings (Siva and Shakti).
Iduman carried one hill on each end of his Kavady across his shoulders.
After travelling with his burden he set it down and decided to rest, once he was ready to continue his journey, Iduman found that the two hills were too heavy to pick up.
Iduman tried to forcibly pick up the hills but was confronted by Lord Muruga and a battle broke out between the two.
Muruga destroyed Iduman in battle but mercifully decided to revive and pardon him.
A change overcame Iduman and he became Muruga’s greatest devotee.
Iduman then proceeded to carry the first Kavady out of devotion to Lord Muruga.
After the Kavady are decorated, they are placed around the chariot for Lord Muruga, and the devotees are anointed with viboothi.
A purification prayer known as a Hawan prayer is then said, dedicated to Agni, the lord of fire.
After the prayer, the devotees gather around a fire to give offerings to Agni.
Once the prayer is finished and all of the devotees have given their offerings, the procession continues to the temple for the festivities to continue.
