Thai Pusam Festival - Palani

Thaipoosam - Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani Thaipoosam, a festival honouring the triumph of good over evil, is celebrated on the full moon day of the Thai month in the Tamil calendar. Every year in the month of January, this Hindu Festival celebrates the birth of Murugan, lord of kurinji (mountain) landscape also known as Lord Subramaniyam, the youngest son of Lord Shiva. Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple This temple is located in the hill town of Palani, in Dindigul district and is one among the ‘Arupadai Veedu’ (six abodes) of Lord Murugan in Tamil Nadu. The temple is located on top of Sivagiri, the taller of Palani's two hills. The devotees access the temple using a main stairway carved into the hill side or the 'Yanai- Paadhai' (elephant's trail). The idol of the main deity was sculpted and sanctified by Sage Bogar. According to the ancient Tamil Culture- Aaseevaham, Sage Bogar was one among the eighteen prominent siddhas. According to tradition, the idol of the deity is composed of a mixture of nine poisonous elements that, when combined in a specific ratio, provide a perpetual remedy. The statue, which stands on a stone pedestal with an archway enclosing it, depicts the deity Subramaniyam in the avatar he took at Palani: a youthful monk stripped of all ornaments and hair, wearing only a loincloth. Thaipoosam Thiruvizha at Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple Thaipusam is a festival of the Vel—a supernatural weapon of Lord Murugan used as the defending and purifying power of Lord Murugan. On the day of the birth of Lord Murugan, the vel(an astra) was presented to him by his mother, Lord Parvati, to defeat the demons, Surapadhman, Singhamugan, and Tharakasuran, who symbolise hatred, arrogance, and evil. On this occasion, thousands of devotees fast for 41 days and gather in this temple, chanting and raising slogans to the Almighty Lord Subramaniyam. On the eve of Thaipoosam, devotees trek to the hill temple and perform penance acts such as carrying ‘Kavadi’. The kavadi is made up of a wooden arch carrying two pots of milk at either end, and it is decorated by smearing sandalwood paste, flowers, and peacock feathers. Devotees believe that Lord Muruga bestows his blessings on his worshippers to lessen the burden of negative karma from one’s life. Thousands of pilgrims throughout India visit this ‘Thaipoosam Thiruvizha’ to witness; the glorious deity, hundreds of colourful kavadis and to take a holy dip in Shanmuganadhi River.  The district administration along with the department of hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments oversee the arrangements made for this festival for processing smooth darshan for the pilgrims. Recently, the district administration implemented special ramps and wheelchair facilities for pilgrims with disabilities.             Countless colourful kavadis, the magnificent deity, and the opportunity to take a holy bath in the Shanmuganadhi River attract thousands of pilgrims from all across India to celebrate Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple's "Thaipoosam Thiruvizha”.