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The colours of Thaipusam

Every year several hundred thousand Hindu devotees gather at Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, for the festival of Thaipusam. It is the largest, and most spectacular, celebration of the festival outside India, drawing devotees from near and far. This year is no exception - we take a look at some of the best moments captured on camera.

The Hindu temple complex at Batu Caves is dominated by the massive statue of Lord Murugan, the deity at the centre of Thaipusam. The annual event celebrates his victory over a power demon, a triumph made possible by a sacred lance or spear known as a vel.



A particular feature of Thaipusam is the kavadi, a burden which is carried as an act of religious devotion. Many of these burdens are elaborately decorated constructions, which are carried on the shoulders.




Wearing a kavadi is normally a way of earning a favour from Lord Murugan, or to give thanks for a past blessing. It can also show penance for a past misdeed.




Many devotees are attached to their kavadi with metal spikes or hooks. By showing his faith is this way, the bearer can also give blessings to others.




Each kavadi-bearer is accompanied by helpers, offering support and comfort. They include musicians, whose playing is said to encourage a trance-like stake, which eases the pain of the burden.




The most common kavadi - especially for women - is a pail of milk, which is carried on the head. This milk is then given as an offering to Lord Murugan.




Other acts of devotion include shaving one’s head, abstaining from sex and alcohol, eating vegetarian food, and smashing coconuts.




By the Lord Murugan statue are steps leading up to Batu Caves themselves. The upward flow of people is split between kavadi-bearers (and their helpers), and everyone else. Despite the crush of people, the mood is remarkably easy-going.




There are 272 steps up to the caves, a gruelling last test for kavadi-bearers who have already walked several miles in the tropical heat. The cave entrance is said to resemble the sacred vel which helped secure Lord Murugan’s victory.




The cave complex is dotted with Hindu shrines and temples. It has been the focus of local Thaipusam celebrations since 1892.




The majority of Malaysia’s ethnic Indian population can trace their ancestry to the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where Thaipusam is a particularly important festival. Up to a million people are said to throng Batu caves every Thaipusam.




It’s not all heady celebrations though. There’s also a lot of waiting round in queues, or for parents for finish their devotions, as these kids can attest.




Thaipusam is not just a religious event, it is also an enjoyable social occasion. The complex is filled with dozens of stalls, selling everything from Bollywood DVDs, to furniture. There’s even a fun fair.




This being Malaysia, food plays a big part in the Thaipusam experience. Many of the stalls sell tasty Indian snacks, such as these freshly fried pakora.