The journey to Thaipusam: The piercing, the people and the passion [Full documentary]

Thaipusam is a festival celebrated by Hindus worldwide in honour of the deity Lord Murugan.

In Singapore, some devotees have their bodies pierced and carry physical burdens called kavadi on an arduous 4km procession. But how do these devotees prepare – both physically and mentally – for such a sacrifice?

The Straits Times follows two devotees – Mr S. Ramanathan and Mr Shanmugam Govindarasu – as they make their journey to Thaipusam.

0:00 What is Thaipusam?
3:07 The devotees
3:38 The kavadi
4:44 Preparation and fasting
6:30 Kavadi preparation
7:48 Thaipusam eve
10:03 How Ram became a kavadi bearer
10:48 How Shanmugam became a kavadi bearer
11:56 Parts of the kavadi
13:14 How to make panchamirtham
14:31 Ram buys panchamirtham ingredients
16:29 Shanmugam's ingredients for panchamirtham
18:43 The piercer
21:48 Shanmugam leaves for the temple
22:37 Sights and sounds of the Temple
23:44 Shanmugam prepares to be pierced
24:26 Ram goes to the Temple
26:06 Ram sets up
27:39 Ram prepares to be pierced
28:42 The piercing
30:54 Shanmugam makes the long walk
34:38 Ram sets off
35:03 The storm arrives
35:31 The crash
37:59 The finish
39:27 Idumban Puja (final prayers)

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