Being nearby, I was bestowed with the opportunity to witness up-close the Thaipusam celebration yesterday. It is a yearly Hindu festival celebrated by Tamil community during the full moon of the Tamil month, Thai (around January and February). The word Pusam indicates the highest shining star of the festival, which derived the moniker. The festival honors the vanquished of the evil demon Soorapadman by the Hindu’s War Lord, Murugan using the vel (spear) given by Lord Parvati.

The preparation for the festival actually started approximately 48 days before, whereby the devotees are required to cleanse themselves through prayers and abstinences including fasting and celibacy. On the eve of the festival, they will gather at Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur prior to the walking procession to the Sri Subramaniar Swamy temple at Batu Caves, some 15km further away. The parade, is taking about 8 hours to complete and conclude at the cave’s cathedral chamber that sits midways of the limestone cliff, which can only be reached by ascending 272 steps to the top.

On the day of the festival, the devotees will undergo various rituals, physical cleansing, shaving their heads, bearing a kavadi (burden) and piercing of skin, tongue and cheek. These acts of devotion and mortification symbolize an offering to the deity for averting misfortunes as well as demonstrating gratitudeness, debt bondage and to achieve the god’s blessing.

On the way to Batu Caves

Food stalls serving colorful Indian delicacy such as Laddu and the coconut candy are easily spot on along the way to the temple ground.

We arrive just in time to witness the entering of the procession into the Batu Caves’ temple. Above, is the kavadi bearing the idol of Lord Murugan.

Standing at 42.7 meter high, the world’s tallest statue of Lord Murugan guarding the entrance to the Batu Caves Temple.

A female devotee carrying pal kodam, the milk pot.

 The kavadi bearer entering the temple ground. Kavadi symbolize the heavy burden that the devotee wish to avert by help of Lord Murugan.

The kavadi bearer

I spotted a family camped at the temple ground

 While others are taking a retreat under a cool shade. They must have been here since early in the morning.

Another pal kodum bearer. Pal kodum is the simplest means of burden that the devotee take a vow to the Lord Murugan.

 Underneath the cloth is a sharp metal that has been confiscated by the police

 One of the devotee pulling the kavadi that is hooked to his back, while the followers are chanting “vel, vel” (spear, spear) in unison. That sorts of motivates him.

 Upon entering the temple ground, his relative recite a mantra for blessing.

 A young devotee.

 Along the way, charity organizations and individuals are distributing free drinks to quench the pilgrimages thirst.

Baldness is common here, men and women alike.

 A teenager making sure she’s presentable for the festivity.

A devotee in deep trance. She is being rolled all the way to the temple. I’m not sure from where this has started. Imagine being rolled on your back on the hot pavements for 15km. Such an endurance.

 Another devotee waiting his turn to enter the temple.

While another is taking a puff to kill the time. And also to ease his nervousness.

 The police. I think they are checking the time, as to when the Prime Minister is to arrive. Yeah, Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak is coming today to officiate the ceremony.

 The spectators, and enthusiasts like me.

 More devotees throng in. The merry and catchy background songs sorts of adding spices and drama to the whole thing. Unwittingly, my feet and my head start to move to the beat.

 Miniatures of pal kodum, hung at the back of one of the devotee.

 The heavy kavadi being hooked to the flesh. The more the pain, the more the merits.

 The bearer

 A young devotee with a vel piercing through her cheeks. She looks gloomy, I think that must have hurt her a lot.

 Another devotee paying the penance.

 They go all the way up the 272 steps to the top.

A couple preparing for prayers.

 Which later includes the smashing of the coconut, a form of thanksgiving over the fulfilled wishes.

 The coconuts

Slippers are sprawled outside the temple as most of the pilgrimages are bare footed.

 Some of the devotees getting their heads shaved.

 The fresh flower garlands.

 Pigeons that make this place their home.

 Peacock tails that are use to adorns the kavadi.

As the day is getting hotter and chaotic when more and more people thronged in, we decided to leave. Upon exiting we spotted this stall selling posters of the Hindu idols. Mahatma Gandhi is not an exception.

Thank god our way back home is not on the other side of the road.

 The End.