Chennai, Mar 27: Thousands of Hindu devotees on Tuesday pierced their bodies with numerous needles and spikes as mark of penance for their wishes to be fulfilled, on the occasion of the unique festival, Panguni Uthiram, observed in Tamil Nadu.
The devotees showed no signs of pain as they converged at the temples dedicated to Lord Muruga in Tamil Nadu on the occasion of Panguni Uthiram, a festival observed ahead of the full moon in spring. They gathered in huge numbers at the Vadapalani Temple in Chennai.
This annual festival is dedicated to the Hindu God Murugan (Kartikeya), son of Lord Shiva. Lord Muruga is believed to be the God of war and victory and much revered by Tamil Hindus.
