Kavadi

• Traditional Hindu religious rituals known as kavadis, or devotional offerings, are frequently observed during the Thaipusam festival, especially among Tamil groups. As a form of penance and devotion to Lord Murugan, also known as Kartikeya or Subramanya, followers wear a physical weight or object called a kavadi.
• A classic kavadi is a wooden or metal structure covered in various ornaments, including flowers, peacock feathers, and occasionally even tiny bells. It is held by the devotee or fastened to their body with hooks or spikes.
• The kavadi can range in intricacy and weight from lightweight handheld structures to sophisticated, large-scale installations.
• When doing the kavadi, pilgrims carry the burden of the kavadi and travel great distances, frequently on foot, to reach Lord Murugan shrines. They might practise austerity measures like fasting, praying, and being in a state of dedication while travelling.
• A parade of other devotees leads the kavadi carriers while chanting and singing songs to Lord Murugan.
• In general, kavadi is prominently observed during January and February of each year during Thaipusam, the major festival. It is observed in many nations, especially those with sizable Tamil populations, such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore.
• Through their acts of penance and dedication to Lord Murugan, devotees of Kavadi seek blessings, the accomplishment of their desires, and the purification of their mind and body.