THAIPUSAM

Photographer

Michele Spadafora

Category

Editorial Photography - Photojournalism

Company

Submission Group

Professional

Year

2025

Country / Region:

Italy

Thaipusam is a Tamil Hindu festival falling on the first full moon day of the month of Thai on the confluence of the Pusam star, dedicated to the victory of the god Murugan over the demon Surapadman by means of a divine spear granted by Parvati. The festival includes ceremonials of offerings and sacrifices: milk pots, burdens carried to balance spiritual debts, mortifications of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with skewers. Devotees prepare for the rituals by keeping clean, doing regular prayers, following a vegetarian diet and fasting while remaining celibate and make pilgrimage with bare feet and dance along the route while bearing their burdens.