Are you fond of getting piercings on your body? Yes or no, the piercings done during the Hindu Thaipusam festival is certainly not a sight for the faint-hearted.
While it is an uncommon sight for some, the locals of Singapore who worship Lord Murugan feel it to be their religious duty. The story that leads so many believers to march in procession as gratitude for the fulfillment of their wishes is explained in detail in Guide to Singapore’s Thaipusam Festival.
However, the question still remains- why do people pierce their bodies for Thaipusam?
The symbolic reason for the existence of this body piercing festival is about disciplining the mind and body. Once this discipline is mastered, the devotee achieves internal and external purification.
Another reason for the body piercing rituals is to show to the people and to remind self that the physical body is an illusion, whereas the main goal is to become one with God. Thus, meaning that we are beyond our body and must surrender to the almighty.
The Hindu Thaipusam festival revolves around the acts of bravery, courage, daredevilry, and boldness shown by Lord Murugan. That is why his devotees undertake this painful (they don't find it painful) and arduous task of piercing their bodies and carrying bulky items. These items can be as small as milk pots and as massive as dragging a chariot just by their skin.
The Beginning
The body piercing rituals began from a small act of piercing only the tongue. People would do so with a small vel, also called a skewer. The significance was to meditate and take God's name in silence.
What started as a simple offering has now become grand and severe. However, what seems difficult and painful to us is quite the opposite for the devotees.
Today's Scenario
The Hindu Thaipusam festival is no longer only about piercing the tongue or cheeks. It has advanced to a much larger scale of offerings with which people are (literally) mind-blown.
The chanting and drumming of beats put the devotees with fishhooks and spears penetrating their bodies into a trance. They feel no pain, fatigue, or discomfort; only the love and thankfulness for the fulfillment of their wishes.
On 18th January, on the streets of Little India, you will find children, women, and men walking in the procession to pay respects. You will find only the adults, including older men and women, with unbelievable piercings enjoying themselves.
While some celebrate this body piercing festival with fishhooks hooked into their backs, carrying pots and lemons, others do so by dragging chariots. Some have innumerable skewers pierced through their skin and carry a bulky kavadi on their shoulders.
The purpose of all these body piercing rituals is to give thanks to and hope for attaining their wishes granted by Lord Murugun.
It is their faith and reverence in God that leads them to undertake such tasks joyfully.
Gurnika Talwar is FNP’s marketing and creative content writer and has been with the firm since 2020. She is based in Delhi, India and has been in this field for 2+ years.
She started her journey as a freshman but since then has created content on several mediums. With blogging on gift ideas, food, gardening tips and whatnot as her primary goal, she has also curated content for social media and brand films. As a storyteller, she creates original, genuine, and relatable content to connect with the mass. Besides work, you’ll find her chit-chatting about movies or making sarcastic jokes.
The body piercing rituals began from a small act of piercing only the tongue. People would do so with a small vel, also called a skewer. The significance was to meditate and take God's name in silence.
What started as a simple offering has now become grand and severe. However, what seems difficult and painful to us is quite the opposite for the devotees.
The Hindu Thaipusam festival is no longer only about piercing the tongue or cheeks. It has advanced to a much larger scale of offerings with which people are (literally) mind-blown.
The chanting and drumming of beats put the devotees with fishhooks and spears penetrating their bodies into a trance. They feel no pain, fatigue, or discomfort; only the love and thankfulness for the fulfillment of their wishes.
On 18th January, on the streets of Little India, you will find children, women, and men walking in the procession to pay respects. You will find only the adults, including older men and women, with unbelievable piercings enjoying themselves.
While some celebrate this body piercing festival with fishhooks hooked into their backs, carrying pots and lemons, others do so by dragging chariots. Some have innumerable skewers pierced through their skin and carry a bulky kavadi on their shoulders.
The purpose of all these body piercing rituals is to give thanks to and hope for attaining their wishes granted by Lord Murugun.
It is their faith and reverence in God that leads them to undertake such tasks joyfully. 
