Hindu Festival in Bangkok

On Thursday evening parts of Silom Road including Surasak Road was closed to motorists to pave way for the Hindu festival procession which was held at Sri Maha Mariamman (Indian) Temple on Silom Road, opposite Narai Hotel.



The procession was to start from the Hindu temple, move along Surasak Road, through Pan Road and finally back to the temple. Along the pavement of the entire route, hundreds of Thai people dressed fully in white with vermilion on their foreheads had setup tables with large statues of Hindu Gods placed on them, along with dozens of coconuts to be used as offerings. I even spotted some Thai ladies wearing red Indian sarees!



This Hindu festival is known as Dussehra or Vijayadashami, and is held to celebrate the victory of the Hindu God Lord Rama, prince of Ayodhya, over Ravana, the ruler of Lanka who had abducted Rama's wife, Sita Devi. This festival is the grand culmination of the 10-day annual Navratri festival, and is celebrated in India and Nepal with much gusto where crackers are burnt, and huge fetes are organised. Effigies of Ravana are also burnt throughout India.

Later that night at the Hindu temple, the devotees performed a bizarre ritual where they push metallic objects through their skin on different parts of the body, primarily around their mouths and backs. These devotees are called "the soldier of god" and this custom has its origin in Malaysia, known as Thaipusam. Similar rituals are also held in most Chinese temples in Phuket Town every year.



Surasak Road was to be closed at 6 pm, and at around 4.45 pm, it wasn't possible to walk on the pavement as it was filled entirely by the devotees. I had to walk on the road as I was heading for Surasak BTS.



It was a rare site to see so many Thai and Chinese devotees with so much faith in Hindu Gods. It was a Hindu festival but the Hindus were clearly outnumbered by the Thais.

Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu Temple in Bangkok


(Photo credit: Kawaputra)

I managed to click just a few photographs after I climbed up the stairs of Surasak skytrain station, after which I had to hurry up and start my train hopping journey from BTS to MRT and beat the human traffic.

Click here to watch a YouTube video of this Hindu Festival at Silom Road, Bangkok in 2007.