Penang Vel Procession 2026

January 11, 2026 Vel Penang, Thaipusam, Thiruvizha

SIGNIFICANCE OF VEL WORSHIP

THE VEL IS A SYMBOL OF THE PERSONALITY OF LORD MURUGAN. THE VEL SYMBOLISES NYAANASAKTI (THE POWER OF SPIRITUAL TRUTH). NYAANAVEL PIERCES ADVIDYA (IGNORANCE) AND REDEEMS MAN FROM MAYA ILLUSION. LORD MURUGAN WAS CREATED BY LORD SHIVA AND HAS ALL THE ATTRIBUTES OF LORD SHIVA. LORD MURUGA WAS CREATED DEFEAT THE ASURAS OF DEMONS LED BY THREE BROTHERS SURAPADAM (REPRESENTING EGO), THARAGAN (REPRESENTING IGNORENCE) AND SINGAMUM (REPRESENTING GREED).

FOR EONS, THE DEVAS WERE IN GREAT SUFFERING SINCE THEY WERE DEFEATED AND ENSLAVED BY SURAPADAM, OUT OF DESPERATION THE DEVA PLEADED WITH LORD SHIVA TO GIVE THEM A LEADER WHO WOULD DEFEAT THE ASURAS AND REALESE THEM FROM THEIR SUFFERINGS. LORD SHIVA CREATED A MIGHTY WARRIOR ENDOWED WITH HIS POWER OR ACHINTYA SHAKTI. THE DEVAS ALSO PLEADED WITH LORD SHIVA TO ENDOW HIM WITH AND INDESTRUCTIBLE WEAPON SINCE SURAPADAM HAD OBTAINED A BOON FROM LORD SHIVA THAT NO EXISTING WEAPON SHOULD BE USED AGAINTS HIM. THEREFORE A NEW WEAPON WAS FORGET BY PARASHAKTI (AMMAN), THE CONSORT OF LORD SHIVA, AS ARUNAGIRINATHAR STRESSES IN “VEL VIRUTHAM”

AMBAL APPEARED IN THE FOLLOWING FORMS: (1) KANGAALI, (2) SAMUNDI, (3) VAARAGI, (4) YINDHRAANI, (5) KOWMAARI, (6) KAMALAA SANAK KANNI, (7) NARANI, (8) KUMARI, (9) BAYIRAVI , (10) AMALAI, (11) GOWRI, (12) KAAMAAKSHI, (13) SAIVA SINGAARI, (14) YAAMALAI, (15) BHAVAANI, (16) KAARTHIGAI, (17) KOTTRI, (18) THRAYAMBAGI. THEN ALL THESE SHAKTI MERGED INTO A SINGLE INDESTRUCTIBLE ALL POWERFUL VEL. THIS IS ALSO WHY THE VEL IS REFERRED TO AS SHAKTI VEL. THE WHOLE PROCESS OF FORGING THE VEL AND HANDLING OVER TO LORD SUBRAMANYAR HAPPENED DURING THE POOSA NATCHATHIRM ON POURNAMI DAY (FULLMOON) IN THE MONTH OF THAI (JANUARY-FEBRUARY) ON THAIPUSAM DAY, THE VEL IS WORSHIPPED BY DEVOTEES TO SYMBOLISE SAKTHI. IT REPRESENT THE THE TOO TOOL TO REMOVE

OUR BAD KARMAS WHICH HAS ITS ORIGINS IN OUR GREED EGO AND IGNORENCE.

VEL SAATHUTHAL POOJA

Margali 30th to 16th Of Thai (14-1-2026 until 30-01-2026)

Abishegam for Ambal and Shakti Vel

6.30 a.m

7.30 a.m

Nitya Poojai

5.00 p.m

6.30

p.m

7.00 p.m

5.00 a.m

6.01 a.m

11.45 p.m

1.2.2026

12.00 a.m

Nitya Abishegam for Ambal and Shakti Vel

Nitya Poojai for Ambal and Shakti Vel

Special Pooja for Ambal and Shakti Vel, Recitation of Lalitha Trishati Sthotram, Deepa Dharshanam and Prasatham

17th of Thai (31st January 2026/Saturday)

Special Pooja for Shakti Vel mounted on the Golden Chariot

Golden Chariot leaves from Arulmigu Sri Maha Mariamman Mariamman Temple, Queen Street to Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple (Hilltop)

Sakthi Vel arrives at Sree Ganeshar Temple and will be hand over to the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple (Hilltop)

Speacial Nithya Pooja and Abishegam for Lord Balathandayuthapani and Sakthi Vel

gold chariot, golden chariot, thaipusam, thaipusam 2026, thangga ratham, vel, vel muruga