Thaipusam is a Hindu (especially the Tamil community) festival celebrates the birthday of Lord Murugan (Subramania), the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati, a manifestation of beauty, youth, masculinity, valour and vitality. It also celebrates the struggle between good and evil, the day Lord Murugan vanquished the evil demon Soorapadman with the Golden Vel (lance) that was given by his mother Parvati. It falls on the tenth month of the Tamil Hindu calendar, which is called Thai and the word Pusam refers to the star that is shining the brightest during that period.