THAIPUSAM

For two days, Hindu devotees celebrate the birth of Subramaniam, also called Murugan, the god of war. On the evening of Thaipusam, a colorful procession accompanies the statue of the god from the temple of Sri Thendayuthapani to that of Layan Sithi Vinayagar. All along this route, the faithful sing and pray to accompany the god. In a trance, they atone for their sins or thank him by inflicting torture on themselves: cheeks and tongues pierced with needles, hooks in the torso and back where limes are hung (symbol of purity).