Thaipusam

Thaipusam
Chariot of Murugan during Thaipusam festivities in Malaysia
Observed by	Primarily Tamil Hindus in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Caribbean, Mauritius, Fiji, South Africa and United States
Type	Hindu
Significance	Commemoration of Murugan's victory over Surapadman
Celebrations	Kavadi Aattam
Date	First full moon coinciding with Pusa nakshatra in the Tamil month of Thai
2023 date	Sunday, 5 February
2024 date	Thursday, 25 January

Part of a series on
Kaumaram
Deities Kartikeya Related Shiva Parvati Ganesha Consorts Devasena Valli
Symbols Flag Rooster flag Vahana Peacock (Paravani) Weapon Vel
Texts and scriptures Kanda Shasti Kavasam Kumarasambhava Skanda Purana Tiruppukal Tirumurukarruppatai
Six sacred abodes Palani Pazhamudircholai Swamimalai Tiruchendur Tiruparankundram Tiruttani
Other temples Tamil Nadu Chennimalai Kandakottam Kalugumalai Kumaran Kundram Kumarakkottam Kunnakudi Manavalanallur Maruthamalai Pachaimalai Sikkal Siruvapuri Thindalmalai Thiruporur Vadapalani Vallakkottai Vayalur Viralimalai Rest of India Ghati Haripad Kidangoor Kodumbu Kukke Neendoor Pehowa Outside India Batu Caves Katargama Kuala Lumpur Maviddapuram Nallur Pahang Penang Singapore
Festivals Chitra Pournami Kandha Sashti Karthikai Deepam Kartika Purnima Panguni Uthiram Thaipusam Vaikasi Visakam
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Thaipusam or Thaipoosam (Tamil: Taippūcam, IPA: [t̪əjppuːsəm]) is a Tamil Hindu festival celebrated on the first full moon day of the Tamil month of Thai coinciding with Pusam star. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Hindu god Murugan over the demon Surapadman. During the battle, Murugan is believed to have wielded a vel, a divine spear granted by his mother, Parvati.

The festival includes ritualistic practices of Kavadi Aattam, a ceremonial act of sacrifice carrying a physical burden as a means of balancing a spiritual debt. Worshipers often carry a pot of cow milk as an offering and also do mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers. Devotees prepare for the rituals by keeping clean, doing regular prayers, following a vegetarian diet and fasting while remaining celibate.

Thaipusam is observed by Tamils in India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia notably in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. It is also observed by other countries with significant Tamil diaspora like Fiji, Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa, Canada, the Caribbean countries including Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, and in countries with significant Indian migrants like the United States. It is a public holiday in Mauritius, select states in Malaysia and in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.