from http://monologue.davidleetong.com
Thaipusam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம்) is a Hindu festival celebrated
mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month
of Thai (Jan/Feb). It is also referred to as Thaipooyam or
Thaippooyam in the Malayalam language. Pusam refers to a star that
is at its highest point during the festival. The festival
commemorates both the birthday of Lord Murugan (also Subramaniam),
the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati, and the occasion when
Parvati gave Murugan a vel (lance) so he could vanquish the evil
demon Soorapadman.
