It is a strong belief that according to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati presented a Vel (Spear) to her son Murugan as a personification of her powers or Shakti in order to defeat the evil sura Soorapadman. As per the Skanda Purana, in the war between Murugan and Soorapadman, Murugan used the Vel to crush all the evil forces of Soorapadman.
Vel, as a symbol of divinity, is an object of worship in the temples dedicated to Lord Murugan — the Hindu god of war and a son of Shiva. The Vel festival in Bengal is version of the annual Thaipusam festival celebrates in Southern India, Sri Lanka. During this festival, many devotees pierce their skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers while undertaking a procession towards the Shiva temple.
Frenzied participants are seen shouting and chanting “Ael! Vel! Vel! Vel!” above the drumming during the procession.
The ones pierced sometimes also carry burdens, in the form of chariots connected to their backs through piercings and ropes. Though extreme and painful to look at, it is quite a spectacle.
Many devotees are also seen with a cloth tied on their mouth, signifying their oath of silence till the festival concludes. Others may be seen carrying a pot of milk as offering. Performers are often seen moving in a trance or appearing to be possessed before the piercing ceremony begins. They are first cleansed by bathing and then undergo the piercing process.
The worshipers who pierce their cheeks, tongues and faces with sharp objects hardly bleed and claim to be feeling very little pain! Many say that their wounds heal almost immediately without leaving scar marks.
The festival is symbolized by colors yellow and orange, significant to Lord Murugan.
Vel festival or Vel Vel or sometimes also called Adi Vel is held in a town at the outskirts of Kolkata, West Bengal.
Which date , when and which area of Kolkata this festival does ocuurs ? I wanted to take photographs of this rituals but don’t know where it occurs . So inform me .