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Festivals, 22 Jan 2027

Thaipusam at Palani

The full-moon festival of Murugan in the Tamil month of Thai, when many pilgrims to Palani shave their heads as an offering.

Thaipusam falls at the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai and honours the god Murugan. Palani, with its hilltop temple reached by around 700 steps, is the main pilgrimage site in Tamil Nadu, and the festival is also large in Malaysia and Singapore. Shaving the head, known in Tamil as mottai, is a common vow at Palani, and pilgrims often smear the shaved scalp with sandalwood paste. Families bring young children for their first shave. Others carry the kavadi, a decorated frame, on the walk to the temple. In 2027 Thaipusam falls on 22 January.

Hairstyles tied to Thaipusam at Palani

Head shaving in HinduismTonsure as an offering to MuruganFirst haircutChildren's first shave at the temple

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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