Malaysia is a country where people of many races and faiths, live in peaceful harmony. With diverse cultures, comes many celebrations and festivals. One very important festival that is observed by Hindus in Malaysia, as well as participated in by many others of different faiths, is Thaipusam. This festival is also a very big attraction for tourists and visitors alike.
Thaipusam is a Hindu religious festival celebrated sometime in January or early February, which is during the Thai month of the Hindu calendar, during the time of the full moon. This religious festival is a time for repentance, and remembrance of Lord Murugan, and is said to of celebration when Lord Murugan received the spear (vel) to defeat the evil forces. For Hindus in Malaysia, it’s a time for gratefulness, and for the rest of us, it’s a time to join in this wonderful celebration with our Hindu brothers and sisters.
Thaipusam’s celebration in Malaysia centers around a few main temples across the country. The main location where most pilgrims come for prayers is at Batu Caves in Selangor (Maps location: https://goo.gl/maps/hFBxqXo3fC22). The main temple in the natural limestone caves can be accessed by walking up 272 steps and is considered a pilgrims penance and sacrifice to experience hardship during the pilgrimage from afar. Hence Batu Caves is one of the main locations for this occasion. This year in 2019, Thaipusam falls on 21st Jan 2019. And starts at the weekend preceding the day itself.
Local Guides in Malaysia organized a meet-up on the 19th of Jan 2019 to join-in, participate and experience this festival on the weekend before the actual main day of Thaipusam. As with the previous years, total visitors can reach up to almost half a million people throughout the few days. The plan was to arrive at Batu Caves via the KTM Komuter train, whom this year had provided 24 hour train service for 4 straight days for the festival. The train ride was very comfortable and fast and soon enough, we had arrived at Batu Caves. [Photo below]
A quick 5 minute walk from the train station to the main entrance gave us the opportunity to walk past many flower stalls selling garlands, string of jasmine flowers and the wonderful natural sweet aroma of the colorful flowers. Many devotees would purchase garlands as a offering during their prayers. [Photo below]
Thaipusam is a celebration of repentance, penance, sacrifice, gratitude and thankfulness. Pilgrims come from all over the country and the world. For younger and female devotees, many would carry a pot filled with milk (paal kudam) carried on their heads as they carry them up to the Batu Caves temple. For more able pilgrims, some would carry a semi arched decorated kavadi (meaning burden), as they make their way to the temple. Many carrying their kavadi will engage in some form of dance with some music as part of their offering for this festival. Some devotees take this a step further with enduring physical pain by hanging weights or fruits via hooks from their body or pulling a chariot again via ropes tied to hooks on their bodies. And some have small spears (vels) pushed through their cheeks or tongues as a sacrifice of no speech during this time. [Photo below]
We had taken time to stand at the side to not disturb pilgrims as we observe and appreciate this festival and shooting photos where not intrusive to the pilgrims. As we met up on the Saturday evening, the crowds have not yet started, so it was easier for us as well. Part of the festivities, there are hundreds of makeshift stalls set up selling religious and non-religious articles, clothes, food and souvenirs. It was also a good opportunity to walk and visit all the stalls. [Photo below]
It was a wonderful experience to be here with all the pilgrims and to experience a part of Malaysian Hindu culture. This year, we had missed the night procession of the golden chariot from the main temple in Kuala Lumpur to Batu Caves, and hopefully next year, we will be more prepared for that.
A short video summary of the Thaipusam meet-up in Batu Caves. This is definitely a good festival to join in when one has the opportunity. A must visit recommendation by Malaysia Local Guides.
*All photos and videos are self captured.
Our meet-up event page: https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/thaipusam-festival-photowalk
I’m glad to read the festival is celebrated by a diverse culture of people, regardless of religious views.
