The Thaipoosam festival was celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm today at several Murugan temples including Tirupporur, Tiruthani, and Kundrathur in tamil Nadu. Thaipoosam is one of the most sacred festivals dedicated to Lord Murugan, observed on the full moon day in the tamil month of Thai when the Pusam star data-aligns — commemorating the day Murugan received the divine spear (vel) from Mother Parvati.

Tirupporur Murugan Temple

At the historic Tirupporur Murugan temple near chennai, the festival was marked by large-scale celebrations. From early morning (around 4 AM), thousands of devotees queued in long lines, patiently waiting several hours to receive darshan (holy sight) of Lord Murugan. Special arrangements were made by the temple administration to facilitate uninterrupted darshan for the crowd. Plans are also in place for a float festival (Theppotsavam) at the nearby Saravanapoigai tank at around 7 PM, where Lord Murugan — adorned — will be taken around the temple pond in a ceremonial procession.

The heavy crowds also caused significant traffic on the nearby roads, leading police to divert vehicles to ease congestion.

Tiruthani Murugan Temple

At Tiruthani, one of the six sacred Arupadaiveedu (holy abodes) of Lord Murugan, devotees started arriving before dawn. Special abhishekas (holy bath rituals) and worship were performed early in the morning, and thousands of devotees climbed uphill to the temple, braving the crowd and long waiting times for darshan. Later in the day, the deity is scheduled to be offered a procession ride on the silver peacock (Mayil) vahanam with Goddesses Valli and Deivanai, making the celebrations even more vibrant.

Free buses and disciplined traffic control were arranged to help devotees reach the hill temple comfortably.

Kundrathur Murugan Temple

At Kundrathur Murugan Temple — a well-known Murugan shrine in the chennai region — huge numbers of devotees gathered from early morning to participate in the festival. Many carried various kavadi offerings, including paal kavadi (milk pots), paneer kavadi (paneer pots), and floral kavadi, as part of their vows and spiritual observances. Devotees chanted “Aroḵara!” and other devotional hymns as they paid their respects and performed ritual worship. Organizers also provided annadhanam (free food prasadam) and extended the temple hours late into the night to accommodate the crowds.

Festival Significance

Thaipoosam is not just a grand cultural event but also a deeply spiritual occasion where devotees undertake acts of penance, offer kavadi, undertake barefoot pilgrimages, and observe fasts seeking Lord Murugan’s blessings for strength, success, and relief from hardships. The festival sees devotees from across tamil Nadu and beyond participating in patha yathras (pilgrimages) and ritual offerings at Murugan temples.

 

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.