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Thaipusam in Singapore

A riot we deserve.

By gent

January 19^th, 2014

Rather unfortunate events unfurled in Little India recently, bringing to light the seething displeasure of foreign visitors who now reside and work in Singapore. Cars were flipped. Windows were smashed. Men in uniform, injured. One fatality.

A riot happened and it brought the country to a standstill. Could this have been prevented? Nobody can tell. What I was determined to find out for myself, over the course of two sleepless nights, was whether our fears of the area and of the large number of Indian immigrants there after the incident were unfounded.

I was one Chinese boy in the middle of the Indian crowd during Thaipusam. It is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai.

At 6.30PM, these devout fellows were already ready to begin their journey from the CBD where I first spotted them. They went all the way towards Little India on foot. Processions were to go on throughout the night till the following morning. If that isn't devotion...

Kudos to the kiddos.

Many times we talk about the limited strength of youths. Sometimes we underestimate what we're capable of.

11.30pm. I was an hour in moving with this crowd. I was still the only Chinese fellow here.

That is the smile of a movie star.

Lando? Maybe Lando.

The chilly winds accompanied the crowd urging to move forward as one. This is unlike rush-hour on the MRT where I have more issues with Chinese assholes rushing into me from outside as I try to alight without breathing.

It took a while, but we got in.

The men gather and prep each other.

Taking care of the important things.

Oh it begins.

Devotees offer their prayers with extreme body piercings.

Do not try this at home.

Supporting their faith strong. Supporting each other even stronger.

Protecting the milk that will be used to bathe the Vel (holy spear) in the sanctum, I was told.

The men getting their Kavadis on.

The night goes on.

The celebrations go on.

The people rest when they must.

They pray when they can, wherever they be.

And wherever help and preparation is needed, family will be there.

Positive energy shared with one and all for the challenges of the night.

So the rest may walk the longer journey ahead.

Footnotes

All photographs taken with a Fujifilm X-E1 and a Fujinon 35mm/f1.4 combo. I am currently safe and sound and extremely happy I did this. There's really nothing a smile can't help. Try it sometime

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FootNotes

All photographs taken with a Fujifilm X-E1 and a Fujinon 35mm/f1.4 combo. I am currently safe and sound and extremely happy I did this. There's really nothing a smile can't help. Try it sometime