Hindus in double celebration starting this weekend |30 January 2015

The Seychelles Hindu temple on Quincy Street, Victoria will celebrate its 23rd anniversary – Sangabishegam – tomorrow Saturday January 31.

The religious ceremony however starts today with 108 Sangu and Yaga Pooja and will finish tomorrow with special pooja and special prayers from 9am to late evening, ending with sweets being handed out.

At what is a busy time for Hindus here, the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam is also inviting the public to take part in the famous and colourful Thai Poosam Kavadi Festival and procession on Tuesday February 3.

The Kavadi festival is an annual event of the Navasakthi Vinayagar temple on Thaipoosam day attributed to Lord Muruga, the Warrior deity of the hills.
The concept of the kavadi is to carry milk in small pots attached to the Kavadi in procession to finally offer all the milk to anoint Lord Muruga and to pray for his blessings.

Men and women follow stringent fasting at least three days prior to taking part with all devotion and piety.

More than 25 males are expected to take part in Kavadi called Poottukavadi, Chariotkavadi, Alagukavadi, Palkavadi, Pannierkavadi. Some of the Kavadi carrying males have their cheeks, tongue, arms and back pierced by steel and silver shrapnels as a form of penance for the deity. Ladies join carrying pots of milk on their heads.

The procession, after all the rituals such as piercing of the skin and body, will start at 9am and wind its way along Quincy Street, Revolution Avenue, Harrison Street and Lodge Street and ends in the temple. Traditional oriental music will be provided by a group specially flown in from India,
The festival will end at noon with special Abishegam, Pooja, Prayers and a common vegetarian lunch to all on the newly purchased plot of land behind the temple where a cultural centre will be built.

All devotees, general public and tourists are invited to join the festival and receive the blessings of Lord Muruga.