Share your RF photos of Thaipusam 2012

[sweat100]

I guess most of us have remembered the signature Thaipusam event at 2010 which eventually sparked a great surge in RF users. You can refer to it here http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/rangefinders/643288-remember-pain-thaipusam-shootout.html

I wonder if any RF users will be going? The details can be found here Thaipusam Festival is on 7 February 2012

 

[Cactus jACK]

I guess most of us have remembered the signature Thaipusam event at 2010 which eventually sparked a great surge in RF users. You can refer to it here http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/rangefinders/643288-remember-pain-thaipusam-shootout.html

I wonder if any RF users will be going? The details can be found here Thaipusam Festival is on 7 February 2012

it was a last min decision at mid-night... the kids were asleep, and the wife said okay. i walked up serangoon road, on the sidelines of the procession, to Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, where i spent the good part of my time from 1am to 3pm. there were quite a number of photographers, some tourist and many locals...

unfortunately, because it was a last min decision, i didn't join any group... but bumped into and spotted a number of RFers at the temple.

i'm very thankful that our Hindu friends share this festival of devotion and pray so openly to anyone who enters the temple grounds. the skewers, piecing, hooks, and the sheer weight of the kavadis are definitely not for the faint hearted... but it felt like the burning of incense, drums, chanting, and prayers from family and friends resonated a holy aura to prepare the devotees in their sincerity and commitment in fulfilling vows.

i feel very fortunate to have spent the 2hrs i did, and have a much better appreciation of our Hindu friends and their faith...

Thaipusam (தைப்பூசம&#3021 is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai. The word Thaipusam is derived from the month name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel "spear" so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadam.
source: Wikipedia

this is just the first of my photos in sharing what i saw / experienced during the devotees' preparations for their Thaipusam rites...


| M7 | Summilux-M 35mm ASPH | Fujifilm Natura1600 |

 

[Cactus jACK]

Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (ஸ்ரீ ஸ்ரீநிவாசப்பெருமாள் கோவில&#3021 to Sri Thandayuthapani Temple (ஸ்ரீ தண்டாயுதபாணி கோவில&#3021.

Devotees engaged in various acts of devotion through the festival, many fulfilling their vows by carrying Paal Kavadi (brass jug of milk) on their heads, with the support of friends and family - not just physical support, but spiritual support as well. Here, the initial waves of devotees enroute from Serangoon Rd to Tank Rd. Their route was lined with keen observers, some (like myself) were at awe, seeing this for the first time in person; other more "seasoned" observers / supporters were taking it in their stride; but everyone was soaking up the Thaipusam atmosphere at Little India.








| M7 | Summilux-M 35mm ASPH | Fujifilm Natura1600 |

 

[Blackmafia]

Nice one CJ...was it packed as before? Couldnt go due to work...

 

[Cactus jACK]

Nice one CJ...was it packed as before? Couldnt go due to work...

this was my first, so i don't have much to reference. the temple was packed... but i would say that about 80-90% of them were devotees, with their friends and family... as it should be. but that been said, you couldn't turn around without bumping into another photographer.

 

[Cactus jACK]

I spent a little more than an hour at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, weaving my way around the kavadi preparation areas of the devotees. I was tired after a long day, and the smokey atmosphere almost droused me... but the excitment, anxiety, and adrenaline from the festivities were contagious, there was a heightened sense of excitment. Given to inqury while remembering that this is a regious ceremony, I slowly weaved my way respectfully around the devotees' personal preparation areas, emersing myself into the drum beats and chanting...

The preparation of the kavadi...


The deafening music...


The chanting and singing...


The devotees...


The friends and family...

| M7 | Summilux-M 35mm ASPH | Fujifilm Natura1600 (converted to b&w)* |

* unfortunately, the second roll of natura, also developed at konota at the same time, had overdeveloped streaks / areas due to too too much agitation. i converted the shots on this roll to b&w (using colour filters) so that those areas blend and are somewhat masked. although, i'm sure a keen eye would still be able to spot the overdeveloped areas. i was a pretty disappointed at the colour results, but the b&w conversation seemed to work pretty well, at least to my liking.

 

[Cactus jACK]

Kavadi consists of two semicircular pieces of wood or steel which are bent and attached to a cross structure that can be balanced on the shoulders of the devotee. It is often decorated with flowers, peacock feathers (the vehicle of God Murugan) among other things. Some of the Kavadis can weigh up to 30 kg. But not all Kavadi involve extreme physical endurance. Some devotees also carry a brass jug of milk (Paal Kavadi) on their heads while others carry small pots with offerings for their deity.
source: Wikipedia

The kavadi bearers are pieced with multiple vels and hooks, but possibly the most outstanding are the two smallest ones - one pierced through the cheeks and the other through the tongue. This to signify temporarily renounced the gift of speech and giving themselves to their deity in carrying out their act of devotion.






| M7 | Summilux-M 35mm ASPH | Fujifilm Natura1600 (converted to b&w) |

 

[Cactus jACK]

Kavadis are shrines decorated with flowers, peacock feathers among other things, sometimes weighing as much as 30kg!! The devotees with their kavadi, accompanied by their entourage of family and friends, will walk and dance along their journey down to Sri Thandayuthapani Temple at Tank Road, some 4km away.






| M7 | Summilux-M 35mm ASPH | Fujifilm Natura1600 (converted to b&w)* |

* the overdeveloped areas by the sprocket holes are still obvious on the last picture, even after converting to b&w.

 

[newghost]

Wonderful shots there CJ!

 

[Cactus jACK]

| M7 | Summilux-M 35mm ASPH | Fujifilm Natura1600 |

 

[Cactus jACK]

Some of the devotees have lines and lines of lime or little milk canisters hooked onto their skin... on their back, front, arms, shoulders, thighs.








| M7 | Summilux-M 35mm ASPH | Fujifilm Natura1600 |

 

[Cactus jACK]

Wonderful shots there CJ!

thanks newghost... although, i think you're just being kind.

this was all i managed out of my 2 hrs and 2 rolls... i wish i had more time to learn more about their devotion and the festival. it was an amazing atmosphere!!

RFers, pls do continue to share your Thaipusam 2012 pictures here...

 

[Benji77]

I admire their devotion and spirit to their faith.
A few shots from the morning of 7th Feb with Delta 400 and a set of Cosina Voigtlander (CV) lens.

 

[sweat100]

Was there at 4am to 6am to observe and document the procession. There seems to be more RF users! Taken with a combination of 35mm and 50mm with HP5+ at E.I.1600.

Observed this person for the tongue piercing. It was painful from his expression, he endured it with ease.

 

[Cactus jACK]

i wasn't happy with the results from my digitizing my negatives, so i decided to re-scan them and update them on the thread...



that been said, i was too lazy to remove the dust in post processing...

 

[paapoopa]

m6ttl + zm planar + portra800(push 1600)

 

[nordleadx]

m6ttl + zm planar + portra800(push 1600)

power shot

 

[sweat100]

Some of the colour shots using Natura 1600 and Provia 400X pushed to 1600.The cinematic feel of Provia at ISO1600 is different.

 

[neoro]

Sharing a few from Batu Caves...


Priest by tang_yiming, on Flickr


Kavadi Bearer by tang_yiming, on Flickr


Thaipusam 3 by tang_yiming, on Flickr


Band of Brothers by tang_yiming, on Flickr


Thaipusam 4 by tang_yiming, on Flickr

 

[neoro]

Thaipusam 5 by tang_yiming, on Flickr