“Vetri Vēl Muruganakka!” (‘Glory to Lord Muruga!’) the repeated cries of devotees as they parade through the procession, clad in pink with their cavadees perched proudly on their shoulders, is quite a spectacle to the foreign eye. The festivities are however only the final fruit borne after an arduous ten-day sacrifice. It is thankfully with colour and joy that the culmination of this beautiful festival is celebrated.
The origin of Cavadee begins with the worship of Lord Muruga, the first son of Lord Mahadev and Mata Parvati, slayer of evil demon Tarkasura. He is known as the Hindu God of War and is valiant, handsome and heroic, keeping the Peacock as his vehicle to symbolise his being mightier than pride. The penitence observed to celebrate Thaipoosam Cavadee is to cleanse one’s mind and live, at least for these ten days, in a singular state of purity. Many devotees, especially in our Tamil Community, prepare with zest, the famous cavadee, the ceremonious symbol of a physical burden on their heads which, some say is to help balance spiritual debt. It may also be considered to some as the throne of the lord who is to sit on their heads during the final procession. Made of bamboo and adorned with fleur de coco, garlands of flowers and the peacock feathers, these ‘thrones’ are the central attraction to spectators on the big day. Many ardent devotees dance around with their cavadees on their shoulders to the beat of the drums which thunder in the hearts of all those present.
What many deem fascinatingly scary is the piercing of needles through one’s tongue and occasionally the body. Primarily those needles are in the form of the Vēl, the Lord’s own weapon to allude to Skanda. The idea of the procession is to thank and also demand courage for life’s tribulations. The sacrifice during the procession is hence to meditate solely on Lord Skanda and therefore disable potential distractions, starting with the tongue which incessantly wags with gossip and injures. The needles decorating many men’s backs is not a spiritual necessitation but some choose to do it anyway to show their ardent devotion. Fret not however for some devotees are merely content with tying a cloth around their mouths and carrying a pot of milk on their heads as cavadee. Devotion after all, does not have to be conveyed in ostentatious, drastic measures but may simply be transmitted with a pure mind and clean heart.
The magic of cavadee lies in the last few steps of the procession. Before offering the sacred milk, the pot and kanwar are said to become incommensurably heavy; Lord Muruga Himself seated in them. Tears of bliss, music roaring, the epitome of joy reign the Kovils of Mauritius on this pious occasion. Thaipoosam Cavadee is a harbinger of happiness to all those who celebrate it and an irrevocable component of our great cultural heritage.
Riona S. Peedoly