Mauritius is a country which celebrates culture and traditions with fervor. One of its most spiritual and spectacular festivals is Thaipoosum Cavadee, celebrated by the Tamil community. Here’s everything you need to know about this religious gathering.
1. Who celebrates Cavadee?
Thaipoosum Cavadee is a celebration which originates from southern India, a region where the population is mainly Tamil.
If the entire Tamil community is actually involved in this procession, those who carry the Cavadee (decorated wooden structure) are generally devotees who wish to apologise for their sins but also those who want to ask Lord Muruga for mercy and show him their faith.
2. What symbolizes Cavadee?
Devotees carry on their back the Cavadee, a wooden structure they decorate with flowers, plants, peacock feathers and equipped with pots containing milk. Some structures can be three to four meters high.
In Tamil, the word “Cavadee” means “stick”, referring to the bamboo that Indians were using to carry merchandises on their shoulders. In terms of shape, the Cavadee symbolizes a mountain, specifically the Mount Kailash, referring to one of the legends of the Hindu mythology.
3. What goes on during the procession?
For most of the people, Cavadee is largely about these pilgrims carrying heavy structures, barefoot on the warm tarmac and with their body pierced by silver needles… but few are aware of all the ceremonial behind this striking event.
Indeed, Cavadee also includes 10 days of purification during which disciples observe fasting, abstinence, daily meditations and prayers. The day of the pilgrimage, devotees build their Cavadee at home with the help of family, friends and neighbours.
On the D-day, they all meet at the temple and from there they begin their procession to the nearest water point where they take a holy bath. Then, they walk through their village to the rhythm of prayers, songs and dances that put them in a state of trance
Back to the temple, prayers continue, the milk that has been carried throughout the walk is poured over the statue of Lord Muruga and needles and hooks are removed. Disciples go back home where a vegetarian meal awaits them.
4. Why scarification?
It is the highlight of Cavadee: pilgrims voluntarily implant needles, called Vel, in their cheeks, tongue, back and even hooks after which they hang structures on wheels that they pull during the whole pilgrimage.
According to their belief, all this ceremonial bring them closer to a state of physical and mental harmony. It is seen as an ultimate act of devotion which calls for purification and forgiveness. It is the symbol of the eternal battle between good and evil.
By choosing to carry the Cavadee, devotees confess their sins and the physical suffering that goes along with this confession reflects the desire to repent for their sins so as to be forgiven by Muruga and show their love to the Lord.
5. Who is Lord Muruga?
Muruga is the last son of Shiva and Shakti. He is the God of youth and beauty and represents love, compassion, wisdom. His Vel (the javelin he used in battles against evil) is a sign of strength and protection and is nowadays symbolised by the needles used by devotees.
Cavadee is now celebrated in his honour, referring to a legend that tells that Idumban was summoned by the Wiseman Agattiyar to bring back the two summits of Mount Kailash to him. On his way back with the two summits, Idumban came across Lord Muruga who challenged him.
The encounter ended in war and Muruga won, killing Idumban. However, impressed by his courage and determination, Muruga decided to give him a second chance and resurrected Idumban. Muruga declared that all the people who will now show the same strength of character will get his blessing.
If you are curious about these cultural celebrations, note that Mauritius will also celebrate Maha Shivaratree on February 17th, another ritual worth attending!
