Festival of Thai Poosam46

Thai Poosam Kavady is a Hindu religious festival, celebrated by the Tamil on the full moon in the month of Thai (falling in January/February).
The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a Vel (spear), so he could vanquish an evil demon. It is commonly believed that Thai Poosam marks Murugan's birthday.
As there is a significantly established Tamil community in South Africa and South Africa has the highest concentrated Indian population after the mainland India. Thai Poosam is celebrated in Johannesburg with great abundance. Symbolism is one of the most important aspects of the Thai Poosam festival, for Kavady translates in Tamil as a pole slung across the shoulder to evenly distribute the weight of what is being carried, usually in bundles on either ends of the pole. The carrying of Kavady symbolises the carrying of oneâs burden and then resting it at the feet of the Lord.
At Thai Poosam the carrying of this burden and allowing it to be taken over is expressed by various symbolic gestures and habits. In some instances, the participants are brought into a trance, whereafter their faces are pierced and painted. When theyâve been geared up with piercings and body paint, they walk in a procession through the streets, physically carrying their burden. Some have a cloth tied around their mouths, for they canât speak or complain about the burden they are carrying. When their burdens are given to their Lord, the participants celebrate the rest of the festival freely and relieved. The Thai Poosam festival attracts a lot of visitors in South Africa, also non-Hindus. Due to the many different cultures and religions living in the country, other cultures are generally open and interested in each otherâs habits and beliefs