Author Diveshnee Moodley releases 'Journey Through Thaipoosam' to connect children with cultural roots

IN A FAST-MOVING world, a Gauteng author who believes it is essential that the younger generation stay connected to their cultural roots, has released her latest book, Journey Through Thaipoosam. 

Diveshnee Moodley, 26, said the activity book explained the significance of Thaipoosam in a way that children could understand, enjoy, and remember. 

Thaipoosam, a festival celebrated by Tamils on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai, was held at the weekend.

“Through creative activities, learning becomes joyful rather than forced, allowing values, stories, and traditions to naturally take root in young minds.”

Moodley, a graphic practitioner and owner of Shakthi Graphics, said growing up she was “truly blessed and privileged” to learn about her culture, values, and religious practices. 

“These were shared with me through the stories, teachings, and lived examples of my late grandmother, Chinthamonie Veeran. From her, I learned that our culture is not just about rituals but about faith, discipline, compassion and identity. Those moments of listening, learning and observing have left a lasting imprint on my heart.

“This inspiration also moved me to want to share the same knowledge in a way that is meaningful and accessible for today’s generation. By presenting our traditions in a gentle, fun and engaging manner, we allow children to connect with their roots naturally,” she said. 

Moodley, who took about two months to complete the book, said it was thoughtfully created to introduce children to the rich spiritual and cultural significance of Lord Murugan in a simple, engaging, and meaningful way.

“The book explores the various forms of Lord Murugan, helping young readers understand His many names, appearances and divine qualities. It also introduces His sacred abodes (Aarupadai Veedu), explaining their importance and the stories connected to each holy place.

“In addition, a special focus is given to the significance of Thaipoosam, teaching children why this sacred festival is celebrated and what it represents - devotion, gratitude, discipline, and faith. The book gently explains why piercing occurs during Thaipoosam, helping children understand it as an act of penance, devotion and surrender, rather than fear.

“It also shares the story of Idumban Swami, explaining who he is and why he is honoured, helping children understand the origins of Kavady and the deeper meaning behind this sacred practice,” she said. 

Moodley added that the book included images and illustrations of Lord Murugan, His sacred chariot, and thoughtfully designed puzzles and activities. 

“These visuals help children connect more deeply with the teachings, making learning both enjoyable and memorable.”

Moodley hoped the book helped children understand the values behind the rituals. 

“I hope they can see the devotion, discipline, humility, gratitude and faith, rather than seeing them as mere practices. Furthermore, by learning through fun activities, stories and visuals, children can build a natural and lasting connection to their culture.”

Some of her other books include, Journey Through Purattasi, Journey Through Navaratri, and Journey Through the Ramayan.

“Each book has been thoughtfully designed to teach children about the significance of these sacred observances through fun, engaging and age-appropriate activities.”

Moodley intends to write more books covering as many sacred prayers and observances as possible, such as Shivaratri, Massi Magam, Amman Prayers and Skanda Sashti. 

“The aim is to introduce children to the richness of our spiritual traditions, helping them understand the meaning and significance behind each practice in a way that is engaging, educational, and memorable.”

The books, which are free, are currently available at select locations around Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal. 

“The PDF versions and hard copies are completely free, thanks to the generous collaboration between my business and Printgility in Johannesburg. This initiative ensures that children and families can access these books easily and enjoy them without any cost. A full list of temples where you can collect a copy will soon be shared on my Facebook page.

“I would also like to thank my parents, Terry and Vasanthi Moodley, for their constant support throughout this journey, everyone who has supported my books so far, it truly means the world to me,” she said.