Thaipusam in Little India

We took the MRT to Little India today. I love the way Little India smells. Like coriander and

incense. Yes, the entire neighborhood smells like that. It really makes me want to eat Indian food. My favorites right now: chicken tikka marsala, palak panneer, with safron rice. Please pass the naan! Today and tomorrow the Hindus are celebrating Thaipusum.

Thaipusam is a two day celebration in honor of the Hindu god Murugan who is the destroyer of evil. People make an offering to him in return for blessings. The offerings can be as small as a flower or a pot of milk set in front of his statue, or as extreme as enduring pain on his behalf. They believe the bigger the offering the bigger the blessings.

The people prepare all month for this, fasting and praying. They start at the temple to prepare and then carry their offering through the streets in a long procession. We went in the morning, but the procession goes on all day and into a big celebration at night.

You can see some people carrying their offerings. The man on the right has a spear stuck through his cheeks, and limes individually hooked through his skin on his back.

This man is carrying the most elaborate offering - a kavadi. We were told it is pretty heavy, but is also speared to his body in different places. And he has a spear through his mouth. Here is a more detailed explanation about Thaipusam if you'd like to see more.

I don't know how you can watch this and not be impressed with their devotion. so much dedication and endurance.

The streets were blocked off for the procession so the sidewalks were pretty crowded. But actually the sidewalks are like that every time I’ve been to Little India. David took a short video following behind me. As you will see I’m trying to embrace the curl in my hair. Any tips? The shops and restaurants we’re passing are so colorful I wish we would have peeked in them for you, bangle bracelets, saris and dresses, carpets, bakeries selling these crazy deep fried sweets, but the end of the video has a better view of what it looks like. Walk with me?