Devotee with kavadii takes a rest during Thaipusam Hindu festival at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). The word Thaipusam is derived from the month name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from the God Murugan. At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with skewers is also common.

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Size: 3744px × 5616px
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia, South-East Asia, Asia
Photo credit: © paul kennedy / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: asia, asian, batu, caves, deities, deity, devotees, festival, festivals, gods, hindu, hinduism, hindus, indian, kuala, lumpur, malaysia, malaysian, murugan, persekutuan, religion, south-east, tamil, tamils, thaipusam, wilayah