Cavadee

The festival of Cavadee originates from an ancient Tamil legend. The story goes: Idumban was a reformed bandit. One day, his guru Agattiyar ordered that he should set off for the mountains and bring back the two summits. He was instructed to attach them at the ends of a cavadee, a simple yoke. Obedient and faithful, Idumban went to the mountains and firmly tied the two peaks to his yoke. As he set out to bring them back to Agattiyar, however, Lord Murga, son of Shiva and Ouma, changed himself into a little boy and hid in one of the peaks in order to weigh down the load. When Idumban discovered him he was furious and, unable to recognize his god, began to fight with the young boy. In the fight, Muruga pierced him with his spear and Idumban died. The guru Agattiyar and his followers prayed for the Divine grace of Idumban and their God agreed to resurrect the dead man. To thank God, it was commonly decided that all those who will carry the Cavadee to the temple will have their wishes granted. It is also an opportunity to thank God for the favors that have already been bestowed.

The festival is celebrated many times during the year but the most famous is "Thaipoosam Cavadee" which took place on the 30th of January this year. It is an incredibly spiritual day for the Tamils of Mauritius. Before the actual day, the faithfuls have been fasting (not eating meats and certain other foods) for ten days as well as abstaining and praying. The day begins with ceremonial ablutions in the river or the sea. Milk is poured into small brass pots that are covered with a piece of cloth and tied to the cavadee or held on heads. Many offer their flesh to the "vels" which are sharp needles or silver pikes pierced through cheeks, foreheads, tongues, backs, chests, legs and arms. It is said that adorning these piercings without showing signs of pain is good triumphing over evil.

The crowed then moves from the water to the temple forming a colorful procession of devotion. I met up with my boyfriends' family en route. The sun was incredibly hot and bystanders had attached hoses to their houses in order to wet the concrete and ease the pain of those walking barefoot. Others were handing out juice and food. Men, women and children carrying the cavadees often winced silently under the weight of the ornate structures.

Reaching the temple on the hill requires a final hike up hundreds of steps. Some choose to walk some or all of these steps on sandals made up nails turned sharp side up, cavadee still balanced on their shoulders. Reaching the temple, devotees enter to pray. There is food and and drinks. The physical pain and spiritual devotion is palpable in the heat. The procession of people and cavadees seems endless. It was incredible to witness such devotion.

(information above taken from http://www.mysterra.org/webmag/cavadee.html)