THAIPUSAM (22 JANUARY 2008)

Of the many festivals in Singapore, the most fascinating would undoubtedly be the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, during which devotees pierce their bodies with hooks and skewers and walk about 4 km from Sri Perumal Temple along Serangoon Road to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple along Tank Road. The procession usually takes place from 11.00 pm the night before to midnight the next day.

Mommy is a big fan of Thaipusam. She's watched the devotees get pierced at Sri Perumal Temple, walked the 4 km with them, and watched the devotees remove their piercings at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple before. She's seen devotees balance milk pots on their heads whilst in a trance, spin round and round at amazing speeds with really heavy and tall spiked kavadis on their shoulders, walk on nails for 4 km whilst pulling a charriot hooked to their backs, getting whipped whilst in a trance, etc.

It was Thaipusam yesterday, so Mommy drove the family to Little India to witness the procession. We were there in the afternoon, the time of the day when not so many devotees do the walk. Devotees usually choose to walk early in the morning or in the evening when it is not so hot. We picked a shady spot outside Albert Court Hotel to watch the procession. It was an interesting day out.