Malaysia’s Tamils Mark Thaipusam
2016.01.28
Life on the northern end of Kuala Lumpur burst into a dizzying array of colors earlier this month as Malaysia’s ethnic minority Tamils marked Thaipusam, a religious festival that commemorates the defeat of the demon Soorapadman by Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war.
Thaipusam began with a nighttime procession on Jan. 23 that featured a silver chariot bearing the idol of Lord Murugan as it made its way to the Batu Caves, a sacred site for Hindus on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital. The idol of the god is housed at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
Batu Caves, where the festival has been celebrated since 1892, is a limestone hill 17 km (10.5 miles) north of the city. The caves, next to a giant statue of Lord Murugan, can be reached by a 272-step staircase.
The festival’s main highlight is the Kavadi Attam (Burden Dance), where devotees carry offerings on their heads as they make their way to the temple-cave. The simplest offering can be a pot of milk, but some devotees punish or exert themselves by having their cheeks and backs pierced with skewers or hook as they carry the altar on their shoulders. Participants prove their gratitude through pledges to Lord Murugan.
To prepare for the Kavadi Attam, devotees go through 48 days of physical training and spiritual cleansing. This includes a strictly vegetarian diet and abstinence from sex.
Some attendees walked for more than 10 hours from neighboring states to participate in the celebration in the Kuala Lumpur area. In other states farther out, members of the Tamil community hold smaller Thaipusam celebrations.