Thaipusam 2008

Today Malaysians of Hindu faith celebrates Thaipusam.

Thaipusam is a religious festival. Devotees take time to fulfil their vows to Lord Muruga for wishes granted and also to pray for specific wishes with vows.

The festival is grandest at the world-famous Batu Caves in Selangor. Other states where Thaipusam is celebrated on grand scale is Penang and Melaka.

Thousands of men and women from all age groups carry out their vows in various ways :
1. climbing up the stairs of Batu Caves with a milk pot on the head.

2. carry the Kavadi or have a chariot hooked onto their bodies as they go into a trance and walk to the temple.

3. offer prayers and break coconuts as a symbol of laying off their egos to get divine blessings,

4. shave their head for various personal reasons such as good health, material wealth, doing well in studies or careers, and even for life partners.



Picture of Kavadi carrier at the Batu caves temple





Picture taken in 2007 in Melaka. The temple priests go round the neighbourhood to offer their blessings to the residents.




Note:

On Sunday Jan 20, 2008, the Malaysian Prime Minister announced that Thaipusam be declared a public holiday for Kuala Lumpur and the Putrajaya areas, on the rationale that during Thaipusam, the whole of KL is locked in a traffic jam (which is true). The request for it to be a public holiday has been submitted to the government for consideration some 20 years ago. Thaipusam is holiday for some Malaysian other states like Selangor, Penang and Perak.

Whether the last-minute decision is politically- motivated or otherwise, it's a good mid-week break