Malaysia Thaipusam Hindu Festival
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, FEBRUARY 9th 2017: A Hindu worshipper dances while carrying a kavadi, a mobile shrine that can reach 100kg, as an act of self sacrifice during the Thaipusam Hindu festival at Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam, a celebration that honors the god Murugan, is believed to bring health and prosperity to to the pilgrims willing to make the journey to the temple and give offerings. The Malaysian Thaipusam is the biggest festival of its kind in the world, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims and tourists attending. (Photo by Alexandra Radu)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, FEBRUARY 9th 2017: Hindu worshippers carry offerings during the Thaipusam Hindu festival at Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam, a celebration that honors the god Murugan, is believed to bring health and prosperity to to the pilgrims willing to make the journey to the temple and give offerings. The Malaysian Thaipusam is the biggest festival of its kind in the world, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims and tourists attending. (Photo by Alexandra Radu)
Pilgrims carry offerings varying from bowls of milk to large colorful contraptions known as Kavadi, which are often decorated with peacock feathers and images of Lord Murugan.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, FEBRUARY 9th 2017: A Hindu woman dances in a trance as she carries a kavadi, a mobile shrine during the Thaipusam Hindu festival at Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam, a celebration that honors the god Murugan, is believed to bring health and prosperity to to the pilgrims willing to make the journey to the temple and give offerings. The Malaysian Thaipusam is the biggest festival of its kind in the world, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims and tourists attending.
Manpreet carries a decorated wooden club as a self penitence act during his Thaipusam pilgrimage. Fourth time at Thaipusam, he came from Singapore to join the festival together with family and friends seeking good health and prosperity.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, FEBRUARY 9th 2017: Hindu worshippers gather during the Thaipusam Hindu festival at Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam, a celebration that honors the god Murugan, is believed to bring health and prosperity to to the pilgrims willing to make the journey to the temple and give offerings. The Malaysian Thaipusam is the biggest festival of its kind in the world, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims and tourists attending.
Seelan and his wife, Sumanthi, take Daakshana, their one year old daughter at the Batu Caves temple. Sumanthi prayed to Lord Murugan for an easy delivery and vowed to take their child on the pilgrimage if her wish was granted.
Malaysian Hindu devotees carry bowls of milk decorated with flowers as offerings to Lord Murugan. After walking for kilometers, upon reaching the temple many pilgrims are almost in a state of trance.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, FEBRUARY 9th 2017: A Hindu worshipper wears carnations hooked into his skin as an act of self sacrifice during the Thaipusam Hindu festival at Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam, a celebration that honors the god Murugan, is believed to bring health and prosperity to to the pilgrims willing to make the journey to the temple and give offerings. The Malaysian Thaipusam is the biggest festival of its kind in the world, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims and tourists attending. (Photo by Alexandra Radu)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, JANUARY 23: Hindu devotees in a trance, having their bodies pierced by hooks, walk during their pilgrimage for Thaipusam at Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam is a Hindu annual festival honoring Lord Murugan which consists of a pilgrimage, bringing offerings and often physical penitence in order to receive the god's blessing. Alexandra Radu/Anadolu Agency
A man wears wooden shoes with nails inserted in the sole as a self penitence act during Thaipusam festival. In the past, extreme self penitence acts were more common but they were discouraged and even forbidden by the Hindu community leaders during the last years.
Pilgrims climb the stairs to the Batu Caves temple to pay their respects to Lord Murugan.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, FEBRUARY 9th 2017: A Hindu worshipper carries a kavadi, a mobile shrine that can reach 100kg, as an act of self sacrifice during the Thaipusam Hindu festival at Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam, a celebration that honors the god Murugan, is believed to bring health and prosperity to to the pilgrims willing to make the journey to the temple and give offerings. The Malaysian Thaipusam is the biggest festival of its kind in the world, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims and tourists attending.
Pilgrims accompany a golden chariot containing a shrine of Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan's brother in the Hindu mythology . The shrine was moved for the duration of the festival from the Sri Maha Mariammam temple located in central Kuala Lumpur to the Batu Caves temple for the first time this year. The chariot in which the shrine was moved was constructed last year at a cost of 5 million Malaysian Ringgit (approximately 1.1 mil USD).
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, FEBRUARY 9th 2017: A Hindu worshipper pierced his skin with hooks as an act of self sacrifice during the Thaipusam Hindu festival at Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam, a celebration that honors the god Murugan, is believed to bring health and prosperity to to the pilgrims willing to make the journey to the temple and give offerings. The Malaysian Thaipusam is the biggest festival of its kind in the world, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims and tourists attending. (Photo by Alexandra Radu)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, FEBRUARY 9th 2017: A Hindu man is having a ritual bath during the Thaipusam Hindu festival at Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam, a celebration that honors the god Murugan, is believed to bring health and prosperity to to the pilgrims willing to make the journey to the temple and give offerings. The Malaysian Thaipusam is the biggest festival of its kind in the world, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims and tourists attending.
Young Hindu devotees are having their heads shaved before the beginning of their pilgrimage. In order to be able to carry out a pilgrimage, the devotees have to prepare their body and mind by taking on a vegetarian diet for one month before, refraining from the intake of intoxicating substances and having a general peaceful state of mind.
Images of Lord Murugan are seen on Kavadis carried by pilgrims arriving at Batu Caves temple.
