Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves / Kuala Lumpur / Malaysia

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The temple at Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur, often attracts over one million devotees and tens of thousands of tourists. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common.

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Size: 5616px × 3744px
Location: Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Photo credit: © Aleksander Bochenek / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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