These photos were taken during the Hindu Thaipusam Festival in Singapore. Since the Tamil Diaspora is well distributed all round the world, Thaipusam is also celebrated traditionally in the West Indies, Fiji Islands,
Sri Lanka, South Africa, Malaysia, as well as Tamil Nadu.

Celebrated on the 10th month of the Hindu calendar, Thaipusam, which falls in January or February of each year, is a day of penance and thanksgiving for Hindus. On the eve of the festival, the image of Lord Muruga,
on a be jeweled silver chariot, is pull along by 2 bulls. Thaipusam celebrates the day that the Goddess Parvathi gave her son Murugan to vanquish the evil demons. In Singapore each year, about 20,000 devotees
embark on the ritual journey. Men pierced their bodies with spikes and metal hooks supporting heavy structures called kavadis decorated with peacock feathers and offerings. In a trance, they walk the
four kilometres from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road to the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple on Tank Road. Women and children carried pots of symbolic milk. The cries of
'Vel Muruga Vel Muruga' resound throughout the day and night of the festival.