Editorial photo #3454886 Religion and Belief
Tamil Hindus Celebrate Sooran Por In Ontario
Tamil Hindu priests perform special prayers honouring Lord Murugan during the Sooran Por Festival at a Tamil Hindu temple in Ontario, Canada, on November 13, 2018. Sooran Por (also called as Sooran Poor, Sooran Porr, Soorasamharam, Surasamharam) is the re-enactment of the Battle of Lord Murugan and Soorapathman. According to legend, Lord Murugan defeated the demon Soorapathman (Sooran) and his army with the sacred Vel (lance) given to him by his mother. Lord Murugan fought for six days, and on the last day he liberated the Devas (Gods) from Asuras (demons). Sooran Por is held to celebrate the victory on the sixth day at dusk. The temple is made to look like a battlefield where the idol of Lord Murugan and the effigy of Sooran are taken out of the temple to reenact this fierce battle and celebrate the victory of Lord Murugan. (Photo by Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto)
