One of Singapore’s more colourful religious festivals, Thaipusam, will be celebrated tomorrow, primarily by the Hindus of the Southern Indian community. As always, the festival is preceded by a procession of a silver chariot carrying Lord Murugan, whom the festival honours.
There are two parts to the procession here in Singapore. The first part, which takes place in the morning, sees Lord Murugan transported from the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road to the Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple at Keong Saik Road. Lord Murugan (also known as Sri Thendayuthapani) then spends the day with his brother Sri Vinayagar (or Ganesh) before making the return journey in the evening. On the first leg of the procession, a stop is made at the Sri Mariamman Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Murugan’s and Lord Vinayagar’s mother, Sri Mariamman or Parvati.
Posts related to past celebrations of Thaipusam in Singapore:
- Vel, Vel, Vadivel: Thaipusam in Singapore (2010)
- Sights Sans Sounds of Thaipusam in Singapore (2011)
- Thaipusam at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Templ (2012)
- An Annual Walk of Faith (2013)
- Faces of Thaipusam 2014 (2014)
- What colours the full moon of Thai (2015)
- The full moon of Thai
The Chariot Route (2017).
Photographs from the first leg of the procession this morning:
The Silver Chariot passes the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple along South Bridge Road.
At the junction of Kreta Ayer Road and Keong Saik Road.
Arriving at the Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple.
Preparing to carry the image of Lord Murugan into the temple.
Lowering Lord Murugan.
Moving into the Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple.
Filed under: Chinatown, Devotion, Events, Photography, Photography Series, Singapore, Traditions
