gallery
Thaipusam Festival
17 Jan 2014 — Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). Thaipusam, which commemorates the day when Goddess Pavarthi gave her son Lord Murugan an invincible lance with which he destroyed evil demons, is celebrated by some two million ethnic Indians in Malaysia.
A Hindu devotee reacts as she makes her way towards the temple during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Najjua Zulkefli
A Hindu devotee makes his way towards the Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
A devotee performs a ritual bath during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
A Hindu devotee with his pierced body makes his way towards the temple during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
Devotees with Lord Muruga's silver chariot in Little India in Penang during Thaipusam celebration. The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
A man reacts after his body been pierced during Thaipusam celebration in Penang. The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
A woman walks with spike shoes during Thaipusam celebration in Penang. The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
Devotees make their way up the Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
Hindu devotees perform a religious rites before taking part in a procession during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Najjua Zulkefli
A girl looks back as she being carried by her father during Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Nazir Sufari
Hindus present food and money as their offering to Lord Muruga during Thaipusam celebration in Penang. The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
A Hindu devotee reacts as she makes her way towards the temple during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Najjua Zulkefli
A man carries a 'kavadi' during Thaipusam festival in Penang. The Malaysian Insider/hasnoor Hussain
Devotees walk up to the temple during Thaipusam celebration in Penang. The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
A devotee reacts during a ritual during Thaipusam festival at Penang. The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
A devotee lies down on the street and few others piercing him during Thaipusam celebration in Penang. The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
A Hindu devotee with his back pierced makes his way up the temple during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
A Hindu devotee gets his tongue pierced during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Najjua Zulkefli
Women prepare pot of milk that will take to Waterfall Hill Top temple in Botanical Garden, Penang. The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
Hindu devotees perform a religious rites before taking part in a procession during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Najjua Zulkefli
A devotee with his tongue pierced carries a pot of milk during Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Nazir Sufari
A devotee been pierced while another devotee block her view from seen it during Thaipusam celebration in Penang. The Malaaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
A Hindu devotee with his back pierced makes his way up the temple during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
A Hindu devotee makes his way towards the Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
Devotees enter Waterfall Hill Top temple during Thaipusam festival in Penang The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
A Hindu devotee with his cheeks pierced makes her way towards the temple during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Najjua Zulkefli
Hindu devotees performs a ritual bath during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
A Hindu devotee with his cheeks pierced makes her way towards the temple during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
Hindu devotees carry milk pots known as ‘kavadis’ for pilgrims as they proceed towards the temple during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Najjua Zulkefli
A Hindu devotee makes his way towards the Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
A devotee been perched on his back during Thaipusam celebration in Penang. The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
Hindu devotees carry milk pots known as ‘kavadis’ for pilgrims as they proceed towards the temple during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim.
Devotees climb up 500 steps to reach Waterfall Hill Top temple during Thaipusam celebration in Penang. The Malaysian Insider/Hasnoor Hussain
A man holds a silver spear pot that used to pierce on a devotee body during Thaipusam celebration in Kulit street in Penang. The Malaysian Inisder/Hasnoor Hussain
Devotee makes their way up the Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
Hindu devotees perform a religious rites before taking part in a procession during the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on January 17, 2014. The Malaysian Insider/Afif Abd Halim
Please note that you must sign up with disqus.com before commenting. And, please refrain from comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature and note that comments can be edited, rewritten for clarity or to avoid questionable issues. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments