Singapore Culture

Since living in Singapore, we've adjusted to seeing/hearing festivities revolving around more holidays than just the ones that we’ve become accustomed to in The States.  Two such holidays that have taken place recently are: Thaipusam which was on January 27th and Chinese New Year which fell on February 10^th  this year. 

 Thaipusam is a Hindu festival which signifies the day the Hindu god, Lord Muruga, received his spear, blessed by Mother Shakti. Legends say that Lord Muruga managed to overcome all demonic forces and liberated his people by using his spear. Thaipusam also signifies the day another Hindu god, Lord Shiva, opened the Wisdom Eye of a group of sages by dancing the Aanantha Nadanam (dance of bliss).  Hindu devotees can be seen carrying a kavadi (two semicircular pieces of wood or steel, bent and attached to a cross structure. This is then balanced on the shoulders of a devotee. A kavadi will be heavily decorated with flowers, peacock feathers, pictures of Lord Muruga and will have two small pots filled with milk on either sides), as a form of thanksgiving to Lord Muruga, in fulfillment of a vow. One can carry the kavadi as a thanksgiving for prayers answered, some even do it to develop their spirituality.  These festivies take place at the Hindu temple.  My friend, Melissa, and I were lucky enough to go see this first hand.  The kavadis were very beautiful but looked very painful, as well.  Aside from piercing the skin, shaving the head, and walking on coals, some devotees also fast for long periods.  Considering they're walking 3 miles in sweltering heat carrying large kavadis fastened to their bodies via piercings and punctures, this can be dangerous.  We saw several people passed out and being carried from the extremely hot temple.  This received very little attention which made us suspect that it was probably a pretty regular occurrence.  Despite the heat, it was fascinating to be submerged in something that I knew nothing about before moving to Singapore.  Below are a few pictures I took at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple during Thaipusam.

As for Chinese New Year (CNY), even if you don’t know the exact date or what all it entails, you always know when it’s coming because immediately following Christmas and the January 1^st New Year, it seems that everything is decorated Chinese New Year style with lots of red, lanterns, oranges, and colorful Chinese Dragons! You can even tell a difference at the grocery store where they begin to sell more traditionally Chinese foods as well as more oranges (represent good luck and fortune) and the lines get much longer!  While the long lines are a pain, that is made-up for by the fact that there are several firework shows during the nearly month-long celebration of CNY.  We even had a pretty good view of the ones near the Central Business District from our balcony at the new place.

Chinese Dragons at a shopping mall doing a festive dance in honor of CNY

CNY fireworks from our balcony

Below are the Wikipedia links if you are interested in more information on either holiday.

Thaipusam

Chinese New Year