On Thaipusam day, devout Indian worshippers clad in yellow attire and adorned with sacred ash embark on a journey towards the temple, bearing exquisitely decorated 'kavadi' – symbolic burdens – while enduring physical strain to fulfil their sacred vows.

The term 'kavadi' in Tamil signifies a load carried on the shoulders, presented as a sacrificial gesture to the Hindu deity Lord Murugan. This act serves as an expression of gratitude when the devotees' vows are fulfilled by their revered deity.

Selvaraja Kaliyaperumal, a skilled kavadi artisan, has devoted himself to crafting 'Mayil Kavadi' – kavadi made of peacock feathers, which deeply rooted in tradition as the peacock is considered the sacred vehicle of Lord Murugan. The 55-year-old, who inherited this craft from his late father 26 years ago, has passed down the art to his sons, Teenesh, 28, and Satish Raj, 26.

Exclusively producing peacock feather kavadis, Selvaraja emphasized their natural beauty and significance in the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves, Selangor, renowned for peacock Kavadis during Thaipusam celebrations. Their intricate creations, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 peacock feathers per kavadi, garner high demand, even attracting international orders from South Africa and Mauritius.

"Our main kavadi are for rentals for devotees in the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple, in Batu Caves, Selangor, where peacock kavadi have been famous in this temple for every Thaipusam celebration since those days," he told Bernama.

Innovating to enhance vibrancy, Satish incorporates LED lights into the peacock feather kavadis, importing materials from India. This year, the trio offers kavadi rentals priced between RM800 and RM1,300, varying based on size and design.

Beyond peacock kavadis, various forms such as Paal Kavadi (carrying pots of cow's milk), Panneer Kavadi (bearing sanctified water or rose water), Karambu Kavadi (expressing parental gratitude with a child carried on sugar cane poles), and Pushpa Kavadi (flowers kavadi) enrich the diverse expressions of devotion during Thaipusam.

Indeed a beautiful story!

Source / Image Credit : Bernama