Hindu devotees in Malaysia gather in thousands for Thaipusam festival
- Thousands of devotees, some piercing their skin with hooks and skewers to express their devotion, gathered in temples across the country to mark the occasion
- Prior to the festival, devotees will typically hold daily prayer sessions, abstain from sex, refrain from cutting their hair and stick to a strict vegetarian diet
Hundreds of thousands of Hindus in Malaysia, some piercing their skin with hooks and skewers to show their devotion, gathered in temples across the country on Monday to mark Thaipusam.
The annual Hindu festival sees believers carry offerings to places of worship to the deity Murugan and marks the day when his mother – the goddess Parvathi – gave him a powerful lance to fight demons.
It is observed mainly in countries with significant populations of ethnic Tamils – descended from people who originally came from southern India – including Malaysia and neighbouring Singapore.
Massive crowds thronged the Batu Caves complex outside Kuala Lumpur as incense and drums filled the air.
Many had trekked for hours to reach the popular pilgrimage site before the final arduous climb up 272 steps to reach the temples set in caves.
A huge variety of offerings, known as “kavadi”, were on show – from simple pots of milk balanced on pilgrims’ heads, to poles slung across shoulders, and large portable altars decorated with feathers and flowers.