The Kavady Festival in Durban - Community Memory
2 The significance of the Kavady Festival
3 The observation of the festival
4 IsiZulu Summary
5 Okwenzeka ngaphambi kokuqala kwalomcimbi
Background Ever year thousands of Hindus gather around temples in Durban to observe the Kavady Festival in worship of Lord Muruga, a deity in Hinduism. It is a Hindu festival and tradition that was carried over from India where Hindus observe a fast and carry a kavady which is a semi circular structure, decorated with flowers, ferns palm leaves and a vel (spear like weapon that Lord Muruga holds in his hand), lime, sacred ashes and peacock plumes (the peacock is the vehicle of Lord Muruga) and bearing brass vessels of milk. This kavady is carried on the devotee’s shoulder from a river or ground to Lord Muruga’s shrine at a near temple during the Kavady Festival. The festival is a South Indian tradition that is observed during the Tamil Month of Thai (mid January till Mid February). It is then called the Thai Poosam Kavady and again held in April. Temples around Durban partake in this festival and draws thousands of devotees from their local community.
The significance of the Kavady Festival As humans, we are bound to commit sins and we need to better ourselves and create harmony within and among ourselves. In order to do this we need to recognize and pinpoint our wrong, we need to confess and be willing to repent for our sins. A vow to carry the Kavady is an admission of our sins and a willingness to change. Many devotees also take the vow to cure their illnesses. The observation of the festival Nine days before the actual procession, Lord Muruga’s flag is hoisted at temples around Durban. The devotees start observing a strict fast, abstaining from meat, alcohol and sexual contact. The Kavadies are loaned out to the devotees by the temple for a minimal fee. On the tenth day the Kavadies are washed and decorated with flowers, ferns, palm leaves and other greenery. At an auspicious hour the Kavadies are hoisted on their shoulders and carried by the devotees in a procession to a near river or grounds. There the Kavadies are washed with rose water and holy ashes. The peacock feathers, lime and the secret vel are tied to the Kavady. Two brass vessels of milk are also tied to the Kavady, one at either end. The main prayer starts before twelve o’ clock where the devotees sing, chant while some devotees go into a trance and have silver pins, needles and hooks pierced into their tongue, cheeks and bodies. The amazing thing is that they shed no blood or feel no pain. Soon the return journey begins where the Kavadies are carried back to the temple and off loaded at Muruga’s feet and the vessels of milk are poured over his shrine and becomes blessed milk called Abishegam milk which is given to the devotees. The devotees take light refreshments of milk and fruits and return home. On the third day therafter the fasting is concluded with the lowering of the flag. Kavady is held twice a year in Durban at most of the temples. Thousands of people partake in this festival by taking vows to carry Kavady or to give milk and vegetarian meals to the people that join the festival.
IsiZulu Summary Njalo ngonyaka eThekwini izinkulungwane zamaHindu zihlanganyela emathempeleni azo ukubungaza nokukhonza iNkosi uMuruga ongomunye woNkulunkulu enkolweni yamaHindu emcimbini owaziwa ngokuthi yiKavady Festival. Lelisiko lamaHindu basuke nalo emazweni abo lapho beyaye bazile ukudla bathwale nomfanekiso okwasandilinga wahlotshiswa ngizimbali kanye namasundu bese kuhlonywa okusamkhonto okuphathwa uNkulunkulu wabo uMuruga, kukhona nomlotha kanye nezimpaphe zepigogo (ipigogo liwumfanekiso wemoto kuloNkulunkulu), kanye nesitsha esicwebezelayo esigcwele ubisi. Lomfanekiso uthwalo abalandeli usuka emfuleni noma endaweni ebekuhlanganyelwe kuwo uhanjiswe ethempelini lapho kunomfanekiso waloNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwenziwa phakathi nenyangakaMasingana noNhlolanja uphinde wenziwe nangoApril. Njengabobonke abantu abaphilayo amaHindu asebenzisa lesikhathi salombungazo ukuvuma izono zabo kanye nokukhombisa ukuzisola bese beyazibophezela ekuguquleni izenzo zabo. Okwenzeka ngaphambi kokuqala kwalomcimbi Kusasele izinsuku eziyisishiyagalolunye ngaphambi kokuqala kwalomcimbi wonke amathempeli amaHindu aphakamisa ifulegi elinomfanekiso weNkosi uMuruga. Bonke abalandeli bayazila, bangayidli inyama, bangaphuzi utshwala futhi bangazimbandakanyi ocansini. Imifanekiso yekavady iyaqashiswa kubalandeli ngemali encane. Kuthi ngosuku lweshumi amakavady agezwe bese eyahlotshiswa kuthi ngesikhathi esibekiwe bonke abalandeli bayawathwala bawabeke emahlombe bahambe baye emfuleni noma endaweni ekuzohlanganelwa kuyo lapho azogezwa ngamanzi angcwele kanye nomlotha bese kuchonywa nezimpaphe zepigogo, nesitsha sobisi. Emini bebade kuyaqalwa kuyathandazwa, abanye bacule njalonjalo abanye basebenzise izinaliti ukuzibhobosa emzimbeni. Okumangazayo ukuthi abophi uma benza lokhu. Uma sebeqedile ukuthandaza uhambo oluya ethempeleni luyaqala lapho bebeka khona amakavady ezinyaweni zeNkosi uMuruga kuthi ubisi luthelwe emfanekisweni wakhe bese luthathwa njengolungcwele lubizwe ngokuthi yi-Abishegam milk lunikezwe abalandeli baluphuze badle nezithelo babuyele emakhaya. Ngosuku lwesithathu ngemuva kwalomcimbi ukuzila kuyamiswa, nefulegi lehliswe. Edolobheni laseThekwini iKavady Festival yenziwa kabili ngonyaka. By: Yoveshine Pillay Retrieved from "http://wiki.ulwazi.org/index.php5?title=The_Kavady_Festival_in_Durban"