Thaipusam marks the birth of Lord Muruga. It is a religious festival associated with penance and atonement and a day to repent by fulfilling vows and offering thanks to Lord Muruga.
You can read more on the origins and meaning of the festival here.
Enjoy the picture gallery.
Devotees carrying paal kudam (milk pots) as an offering to the deity Lord Muruga.
A skewer that goes into the tongue.
A devotee in a trance has his tongue pierced. The surprising thing is that there is little pain and almost no blood.
Hooks that are pierced into the back with ropes attached to them and a friend pull the other end of the ropes. This is for those who can’t afford a mini-chariots which are very expensive.
Large hooks that are pierced into the back with chains attached to them.
A close-up view of the hooks pierced to the skin.
Small hooks are attached to apples and pierced into the back.
This devotee in trance breaking a coconut shell using his mouth and later seen eating the white edible flesh.
A woman devotee with her cheek pierced across with a skewer.
A devotee standing on sharp edges of long knives with no pain and almost no blood.
A long skewer that goes into the tongue and across the cheek.
The kavadis with their colourful decorations of peacock feathers and garlands.
A youth group providing music for the devotees participating in the festival.
The devotees bath in the nearby river before going into trance and have the kavadi placed on their shoulders or their body pierced.
A devotee going into a trance at the riverside watched by family members.
Others like these female devotee taking a shower before the ceremony starts.
Devotees and kavadi bearers climbing the 272 steps leading to the cave temple, where the shrine of the main deity Lord Muruga is located, as acts of penance.
A beautiful sight to behold – Standing majestically at 140-feet high, the golden statue of Lord Muruga at the foot of the 272-steps Batu Caves is the tallest in the world. Malaysia Boleh!
Thousands of devotees as seen inside the heart of the cave where the shrine of the main deity Lord Muruga is located high above.
Devotees making their prayers and offerings to Lord Muruga at the Batu Caves temple.
A glimpse of the interior of Batu Caves with the temple of the main deity Lord Murugan and the limestone formations.
The Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) of the police force was present to ensure peace and security in the festival.
Not taking any chances, a fire engine on standby at the festival ground.
So was this tow truck belonging to the local authortiy Majlis Perbandaran Selayang to tow away vehicles that were parked haphazardly.
After the devotee has laid down his kavadi and the milk or honey offering poured on the statue of the deity Lord Muruga as an act of thanksgiving, he prepared to have the long skewer removed.
While the skewer is removed, a priest chanted prayer.
Once the skewer is removed, a thirunoor (the ash that Hindus wear on their foreheads which act as an abrasive and an antiseptic) is immediately applied to the skin and a red cloth tied over it. The would heals quickly. There is not a drop of blood and no pain. Amazing!
More Thaipusam pics at :
Colourful Thaipusam at Batu Caves (Part 2)
1 comment:
О! Thanks for good stuff
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