Thaipusam - Festival of Faith

• Photographer
  Shyamala Thilagaratnam
• Technical Info
  Leica Sl-2s/leica 24-70mm Lens, Leica M240/voigtlander 15mm Lens. Various Settings. Full-frame.
• Photo Date
  5 February 2023

Thaipusam, a Hindu festival, celebrates the deity Lord Murugan’s victory over evil.He also is THE dispenser of favors & devotees give thanks for prayers answered.The most extreme form of this gratitude has devotees walking ~4KM in a trance-like state carrying a structure with hooks & lances embedded in their torsos. The preparation itself is a spiritual experience, as spikes are carefully attached to flesh, no blood in sight, each devotee in their meditative bubble.Thaipusam is also about love & support.Each devotee had at least 1 person in their corner; many had a small army to cheer them on.

I'm based in Singapore, a medical doctor by training; photography and my day job at Singapore's Health Promotion Board keep me happy in equal measure. I love travelling - especially to off-the-grid places, where the wifi is weak.