Thaipusam and Ratha Yatra in Singapore

BY MADAN MOHAN DAS

Jan 22, SINGAPORE (TUE) - In the Sri Jagannath, Sri Baladeva, Srimati Subhadra Stuti it is stated:

karunamrta pathodhi sudhamne namo namah
dinoddharaika guhyaya krpapathodaye namah

“O You who are an ocean of nectarean compassion and whose abode is most attractive, I offer my obeisances to You again and again! You uplift and deliver the fallen souls, but how you do this no one can understand. O ocean of mercy, I offer you my respectful obeisances!” As we see from the above verse, Sri Jagannath’s thoughts and activities are always engaged in trying to deliver the fallen souls of the universe. But no one knows how he actually does this. His activities are wonderful and cannot be conceived. This truth was extraordinarily exhibited in Singapore during the annual Thaipusam festival which is celebrated by all the Hindus in Singapore to glorify Lord Kartikeya.