Hindus celebrate Thaipusam with walk to Concord temple
CONCORD, CA (Feb. 27, 2025) — More than 15,000 Hindu pilgrims flocked to Shiva Murugun Temple to celebrate Thaipusam on Feb. 8.
The festival commemorates the victory of the Hindu god Murugan over the demon Surapadman, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. In India, devotees mark Thaipusam by walking to the Murugan Temple in the city of Palani. Here, they participated in a 21-mile walk from Bishop Ranch in San Ramon or a seven-mile walk from Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek to the temple at 1803 Second St. in Concord.
Karthig Nagarajn said the journey from Heather Farm took two hours, followed by an hour-long wait to see the idol of Murugan.
“We are all the devotees of the god,” Nagarajn said, indicating the surrounding crowd. “We have been praying and following this god since we were born in India, so this gives us eternal peace and belonging.”
He and his friend Subbu Basuki said the experience was well worth the time spent.
“The wait here was a little bit hard, but it shows people are interested and I am happy about this,” Basuki said.
Festival organizers spent months coordinating more than 600 volunteers and collaborating with local city and park districts to plan the two walking routes. Volunteers guided pilgrims arriving at the temple through a series of rooms, gave them fruit blessed by the temple gods and stopped to allow them to view the idols on display. After offering their prayers, they received a meal and transportation back to their starting points.
“This is a very spiritual experience,” said Priest Sathish Gurukka. “We pray for all the people walking and for the world to be at peace.”
Devotees founded the temple in San Francisco in 1957 and moved to Concord in 1987 to accommodate increased devotion. A new temple has been under construction next door since 2021, with plans for an opening ceremony on May 9. To ensure the building’s authenticity, special artisans and materials arrived from India.
Shiva Murugan Temple board member Sendhil Chidambaram noted that the festival, now in its fourth year, has grown exponentially.
“Last year, we had visitors from 27 states and four countries,” he said. “This year, I already know there will be more. There is nothing else like this here.”
For more information on Shiva Murugun Temple, visit www.temple.org.
Dawnmarie Fehr
Dawnmarie Fehr is a dedicated journalist with a deep passion for local news. With almost a decade of experience reporting on the dynamic happenings in the East Bay, she thrives on connecting with the people who shape her community.