Seychelles Hindus in double celebration |23 January 2018

The Seychelles Hindu temple on Quincy Street, Victoria will celebrate its 26th anniversary – Sangabishegam – on Sunday January 28.

The religious ceremony will start the day before with 108 Sangu and Yaga Pooja and will finish on Sunday January 28 with special pooja and special prayers from 8.30am to late evening, ending with distribution of sweets.

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 Wednesday January 31.

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 participation with all devotion and piety.

More than 25 males are expected to take part in the 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 in carrying pots of milk on their heads.

The procession, after all the rituals such as piercing of the skin and body, starts at 9.15am and winds 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.

In addition, the highlight of this year event will be a 10-member Peacock & Karakattam Folk Dance Troupe from India to perform folk dances in the Thaipoosam Kavadi Procession and the troupe organised by the Indian Commission of Seychelles.

The festival will conclude at noon with special Abishegam, Pooja, Prayers and a common vegetarian lunch to all in the plot of land behind the Temple earmarked for the construction of a cultural centre.

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

Meanwhile the government has approved a request by the Hindu society to grant one day off to employees of the Hindu faith in the public sector and parastatal organisations on the occasion of the Thai Poosam Festival on Wednesday January 31.

Employees concerned should nevertheless seek specific permission from their respective chief executives who may exercise their discretion in the matter, depending on the exigencies of the service.

Some members of the Peacock & Karakattam Folk Dance Troupe gearing up for the festival