Week 20: Thaipusam!!!

 

There's the little things we love about being here - warm weather, people on the street that all seem eager to smile at the strange american approaching them, new foods to taste...and then there's next-level cultural experiences that are a fun reminder of the bubble we've lived in most of our lives. This week was a good one. 

Thaipusam a Tamil festival to celebrate the event by which Lord Murugan vanquished the evil demon Surapadman with his righteous spear or vel - actually split him in half. One half became a mango tree, the other a peacock and a rooster...the rooster became his flag, the peacock, his steed

Here in Penang, the good times get rolling with gold and silver chariots moving throughout the city. Naturally there was an app to locate them them along their journey to join with the pilgrims who were making offerings of fruits and handing up babies to be blessed. Also along the procession were mounds of coconuts, smashed as a part of the ritual

 Also, this guy got all painted up for the procession

By the following morning the chariots had made their way to the temple, which was the eventual destination for all the worshippers bringing an offering of milk in silver urns carried on their head. Estimates were that ~800k people came to the island for the holiday weekend. I think we rubbed shoulders with about half of them on our hike up to the 500 steps to the top. In retrospect we should have gotten an earlier start so we didn't need to roast in the late morning sun waiting for our chance to take the next step

On the other hand, we weren't carrying things on our head in ceremonial clothing while barefoot. 

Nor were we trying to do it with a bunch of new piercings to demonstrate our devotion. 

This guy is covered with little containers of milk all hooked into his skin. And a few in his face.

Everyone was very gracious and kind even though it was obvious we were there as sightseers in the middle of their religious moment. We felt lucky to have been a part of it.

Then we went home and showered. I felt like this kid