Thaipoosam Cavadee is a public holiday in Mauritius. It is observed on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai, which is January or February in the Gregorian calendar.
Thaipoosam Cavadee is also called Thaipusam in Malaysia, which is a combination of two words: Thai and Pusam. That is the month name, and Pusam is the name of a star at its highest point during the festival.
Thaipoosam Cavadee is a time to ask Lord Murugan for forgiveness, good health, and peace, and it commemorates the occasion when Parvati (the god of fertility) gave Murugan (the god of war, son of Lord Shiva) a Vel spear to vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman and his brothers.
Many participants during the festival engage in various acts of devotion, such as piercing the skin, tongue, or cheeks and believe such acts will help clean their sins.
The temple at Batu Caves is a pilgrimage site for Hindus, and the devotees need to climb 272 steep steps to the temple inside the cave.
The following is the list of Thaipoosam Cavadee from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Thaipoosam Cavadee | Jan 18, 2022 | Tuesday |
| Thaipoosam Cavadee | Feb 04, 2023 | Saturday |
| Thaipoosam Cavadee | Jan 25, 2024 | Thursday |
| Thaipoosam Cavadee | Feb 11, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Thaipoosam Cavadee | Feb 01, 2026 | Sunday |
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