Here are a few short (and sadly not to great) videos I took on my still camera. You are better off looking at the previous story and pictures first.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thaipusam - Son of Shiva
A few Sundays ago I got up early and headed to Little India for one of the most colorful and festive, yet also most disturbing Hindu festivals - Thaipusam. For a good explanation of the festival please look at the following link - http://www.sttemple.com/STT/english/thaipusam.aspLike most Hindu holidays and festivals, there is no one explanation, merely a number of different legends.
The gist of the festival is that devotees of the deity take on a burden, called Kadavi, for which they are said to gain benefits a million fold greater then the pain he (or she) inflicts upon himself.
Things start off at the temple early in the morning. There are thousands of devotees and they are all sequenced. There is plenty of music - drums, horns and other instruments.
Each devotee has a "crew" of family and friends who get them ready for the procession. http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_333366.html
The "pain" involves piecing of the devotees bodies and carrying or pulling elaborate tableau's.http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20090213-121728.html
Here one guy have spike put into his back to allow him to pull a large float. Behind him the gentleman sits quietly with pierced cheeks as his headdress is readied.
The kadavis are put together on site. Each is unique but most feature lots of peacock feathers. There were boxes and boxes of the colorful feathers at the temple.http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Thaipusam
It it said that the devotees go into a trance and therefore can't feel the pain of the piercings or their burden. I didn't see any blood.
Here on the the kavadis is being assembled. These guys are mostly Tamils. Most Tamils come from Southern India or Sri Lanka. There are well over 100,000 Tamils in Singapore. It's the 4th largest Tamil community behind India (61 million), Sri Lanka (3 million) and Malaysia (1 million).
This man calmly sits with a skewer poked through his cheeks.
Each of these wires is attached to the guy with a pin that looks like a fish hook.
The top of one of the kadavis - lots of feathers, a garland and lord Ganesha and Shiva.
Another one gets strapped on. The devotees are getting ready to walk about 4 miles and let me tell you it's always pretty hot and humid here and that day was no exception.
More elaborate kadavis.
Each devotee goes through a prayer ceremony before donning his kadavi.
Special ash is placed on his forehead and chest.
Another man waits as decorations are applied.
It's a very frenetic scene at the temple as hundreds of devotees get ready, leave and others come in. The festivities take place over a 24 hour period and there are not too many lulls. 8000 participated in Singapore and the streets were lined with 10s or thousands of spectators.
After leaving the temple I found a place on the street to watch the procession. Each devotee has his group of family and friends. Some playing instruments, some carrying supplies. Te guys don't look to be suffering but they must be.
I'm not sure if he is in a trance but he is focused.
Here are two guys with limes attached to their backs by piercings.
Each kadavi is unique.
This guy was wearing sandals made from wood with nails, face up, under his feet. Try to do that for 5 miles.
There were a few women amongst the devotees. This one was carrying a kadavi. the minimal burden allowed is a pot of milk. Even carrying a pot of milk on one's head for five miles in the Singapore heat would be no picnic.
There were several stations giving out water and food. Here was some kind of lentil mixture. Maybe a Tamil version of trail mix...
Also huge cauldrons of what tasted to me like a kind of savory Cream of Wheat. I had a cup and it wasn't half bad.
A few lemon and lime carriers and a few milk pots.
It it said that the devotees go into a trance and therefore can't feel the pain of the piercings or their burden. I didn't see any blood.
Here on the the kavadis is being assembled. These guys are mostly Tamils. Most Tamils come from Southern India or Sri Lanka. There are well over 100,000 Tamils in Singapore. It's the 4th largest Tamil community behind India (61 million), Sri Lanka (3 million) and Malaysia (1 million).
This man calmly sits with a skewer poked through his cheeks.
Each of these wires is attached to the guy with a pin that looks like a fish hook.
The top of one of the kadavis - lots of feathers, a garland and lord Ganesha and Shiva.
Another one gets strapped on. The devotees are getting ready to walk about 4 miles and let me tell you it's always pretty hot and humid here and that day was no exception.
More elaborate kadavis.
Each devotee goes through a prayer ceremony before donning his kadavi.
Special ash is placed on his forehead and chest.
Another man waits as decorations are applied.
It's a very frenetic scene at the temple as hundreds of devotees get ready, leave and others come in. The festivities take place over a 24 hour period and there are not too many lulls. 8000 participated in Singapore and the streets were lined with 10s or thousands of spectators.
After leaving the temple I found a place on the street to watch the procession. Each devotee has his group of family and friends. Some playing instruments, some carrying supplies. Te guys don't look to be suffering but they must be.
I'm not sure if he is in a trance but he is focused.
Here are two guys with limes attached to their backs by piercings.
Each kadavi is unique.
This guy was wearing sandals made from wood with nails, face up, under his feet. Try to do that for 5 miles.
There were a few women amongst the devotees. This one was carrying a kadavi. the minimal burden allowed is a pot of milk. Even carrying a pot of milk on one's head for five miles in the Singapore heat would be no picnic.
There were several stations giving out water and food. Here was some kind of lentil mixture. Maybe a Tamil version of trail mix...
Also huge cauldrons of what tasted to me like a kind of savory Cream of Wheat. I had a cup and it wasn't half bad.
A few lemon and lime carriers and a few milk pots.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Uncle Jimmy's CNY Pt. II
Here are a few short (not so great) videos of the party -
Enter the Lion!
Some Karaoke (not for the meek) -
Enter the Lion!
Some Karaoke (not for the meek) -
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Chinese New Year at Uncle Jimmy's Pt 1
The long Chinese New Year was very special this year. Since this is our third CNY in Singapore, we were lucky enough to attend many celebrations. One of the most down to earth was the one at Uncle Jimmy's in Yishun. Uncle Jimmy was Myrna's boyfriend Jhoey's landlord. His HDB http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDB is in a residential area in the Northern part of the island.
We weren't the first to arrive. Here in Singapore, and in most of Asia, everyone removes their shoes before entering a home.
Uncle Jimmy had a table of Chinese New Year goodies ready to go. Pineapple cookies, nuts, oranges, egg roll cookies and more, not to mention beer and liquor.
Uncle Jimmy's wife, Attie Jen, a Filipina, cooked up so good Filipino food.
We were treated to some state of the art Karaoke - the singing ranged from really nice to REALLY bad!
Everyone was awaiting the arrival of the Lion Dance troop. http://www.chinatownology.com/lion_dance.html Here, their truck pulls into the complex. In Singapore there are probably a hundred Lion Dance troops. Many work all year as the lion dance is used to bring good fortune to new businesses and homes. On CNY they are all working overtime. The sounds of the drums can be heard all over town as the troops travel in their brightly decorated trucks to their performances. Performances are going on all the time.
The first to arrive was the God of Good Fortune. He is one of the Chinese Gods. http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-852-Start_The_Lunar_New_Year_With_The_God_Of_Fortune_At_Singapore_Zoo He appears around Chinese New Year and in return for giving him a "red packet" (known as "Hong Bao" in Manadarin or "Ang Pao" in Hokkien) he in turn gives you a "red packet" containing lucky lottery numbers! All throughout the CNY season the red packets are handed out. In Singapore it is mainly called Ang Pao because the Hokkien dialect of Chinese is more prominent than Mandarin. Usually the packet is only given to single people, so sadly, I got none!
The Fortune God is in the house!
Uncle Jimmy and the God bow to Jimmy's Buddhist shrine, in order to bless him with good fortune and happiness in the year of the Ox.
The big guy does the Ang Bao exchange - a few bucks for him, some lucky numbers and a blessing in return.
Now the Lion enters. Jimmy's place isn't huge sop the drummers and other musicians play from outside on the landing.
The littlest attendees thought the drums were a little too loud, but they loved the show.
The Lion need a little guidance to avoid boinking his head on the light fixtures but with his handlers kept him out of trouble.
The Lion dance includes a ritual which bestows good luck on the home, business and attendees. The lion approaches a plate with lettuce and some oranges. He (actually it's two guys) puts the plate into his mouth and does some sit down stuff.
He then dances some more and approaches a member of the crowd.
While he sits, he is doing something with the oranges and lettuce.
He looks to the crowd to give someone a special good luck charm- oh! It's Myrna!!!!!
Triumphant she gets an orange from the lion! Another lucky guy got a half peeled orange. Both should be a sign of good things to come in the new year.
The lion then sets down the plate - rearranged so that the oranges are split open and the lettuce is placed inside. The plate is presented to the host, Uncle Jimmy. The plate is placed on the alter for good luck and prosperity to the home.
A tired and hot lion guy pears out of his mask - "is it over yet?"
The dance over, the lion guys and party attendees participate in the Singapore CNY ritual tossing of the salad, not to be confused with the Schmenge tradition of exchanging of the socks.
The alter is set - good things will come to Uncle Jimmy in the OX year.
Jhoey and Myrna pose with the lion head.
Wearing my CNY red, I too get some face time with the big feline.
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