When hospital worker Surendran Vijay lifted the kavadi onto his shoulders in the early hours of Feb 1, the physical strain was familiar, but what weighed heavier was gratitude.
This was the fourth consecutive year the 42-year-old had carried the kavadi at Thaipusam, a vow he began fulfilling since the birth of his daughter, Lakshmika. After eight years of marriage without children, Mr Surendran and his wife, Mrs Joy Maheshwari, 42, were finally blessed with a child four years back. Since then, he has returned each year not to seek new blessings, but to give thanks.
“My first kavadi experience was unforgettable. Since then, I have continued to carry it. Now, it has become a routine,” he noted.
Mr Surendran was among the thousands who took part in Thaipusam this year, which saw a record turnout.
More than 19,000 devotees carried paalkudams (milk pots) offered to Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of courage and virtue, while 349 devotees bore kavadis, according to the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB). This exceeded the previous high of almost 16,000 devotees in 2025.
Observed annually by Hindus, Thaipusam is a deeply spiritual festival where devotees carry milk offerings on their heads, while others bear kavadis – elaborately decorated metal structures attached to the body with hooks and needles – symbolising devotion, sacrifice, and gratitude.
The 3.2km procession began at around 11.20pm on Jan 31, when devotees carrying paalkudams set off from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple along Serangoon Road towards Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road.
Devotees carrying alagu (spike) kavadis followed at about 3.15am. The festival ends at about 11.30pm on Feb 1.
Among those who joined the procession walk was Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Manpower, Dinesh Vasu Dash. Arriving at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at around 8am on Feb 1, he carried the paalkudam alongside devotees and his wife, Dr Rathiga Velaithan.
“Walking with them gave me a deeper sense of their experience,” Mr Dinesh told reporters on the sidelines, noting that participation had increased by about 20 to 30 per cent this year.
He added that improvements in crowd and queue management had made a noticeable difference, resulting in smoother arrangements compared with previous years.
“Naturally, there will be certain areas with queues, but this year, both temples have done extremely well to accommodate a larger number of people,” he added.
One key change was the introduction of additional entry and exit routes at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. In the past, devotees could enter only through the main sanctum entrance. This year, side entrances were used to better facilitate the movement of devotees carrying paalkudams.
The changes were implemented through joint efforts by HEB and the two temple managements, partly owing to feedback from devotees.
“We were determined to ensure that no devotee should return without fulfilling their vows,” said HEB CEO Sarojini Padmanathan.
Following the full booking of online slots for Thaipusam, walk-in registrations and extended time slots were introduced on Jan 30, in response to public requests.
Ms Padmanathan noted that although the slots allocated for walk-in registration were not fully utilised, this measure provided reassurance to the devotees and confirmed that the initial planning method had been effective.
Faith across generations
Along the procession route, Serangoon Road was awash in yellow and orange – colours associated with Lord Murugan. Instrumentalists added to the festive atmosphere, their beats inspiring spontaneous dancing among kavadi bearers, while volunteers stationed along the route offered water and managed the flow of devotees.
Thaipusam is a deeply personal occasion for Mrs Karuppayi, 85. Despite limited mobility and the use of a wheelchair, her determination to attend the festival has not waned.
She came specifically to witness her grandson fulfil his vow of carrying the kavadi. Mrs Karuppayi expressed gratitude to festival volunteers who assisted her throughout the day, pushing her wheelchair and ensuring she could safely navigate the temple grounds to see her grandson complete his offering.
While many children his age were enjoying the weekend, 12-year-old G.K. Yugan was on the road for a divine purpose. The Primary 6 student carried a paal kavadi with a specific prayer in mind: to do well in his upcoming PSLE examinations.
The decision, he said, was entirely his own, inspired by seeing his grandfather’s prayers answered over the years. “My grandfather takes kavadi, and whatever he asks for, he gets,” Yugan said. Beyond academic success, he also prayed for a good life and a strong future.
At 70, Mr Kanna, who has been participating in Thaipusam since his school days, is living proof that devotion does not fade with age.
This year, he was the sole member of his extended family to carry the kavadi. The responsibility, he explained, rotates among family members each year. “This year, I took it. Next year, it will change,” he said, as he spoke of a tradition that continues to bind generations together.
