SINGAPORE - The annual Thaipusam Festival procession will begin at 12.05am on Feb 3 this year, the Hindu Endowments Board announced on Wednesday.
At the start time, devotees carrying milk pots can begin their walk of faith from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road, which will start receiving milk offerings from 12.30am on the same day.
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival which honours the victory of deity Lord Murugan over demon hordes. Devotees seek blessings and fulfil their vows by carrying kavadis - intricate structures of steel and wood - and milk pots as offerings.
Those wishing to put on spike kavadis can register for the free spike piercing service at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple. Spike and chariot kavadis can make their walk between 4am and 2pm on Thaipusam day. All kavadis will be required to enter the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple via the Race Course Road entrance.
A silver chariot procession of Lord Murugan will leave the Tank Road temple at 5am the day before on Feb 2 for the Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple at Keong Saik Road. The chariot will depart from the temple at Keong Saik Road at 6pm the same day and arrive back at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple by 9pm.
All devotees participating in the festival are required to leave the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple by 5pm and reach the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple by 11.45pm in compliance with the police permit.
