Thaipusam Festival
Every year end of January / beginning of February it is time for the spectacular Thaipusam Festival which is expected to draw more than one million devotees and visitors to the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur but there are also precessions in Georgetown/Penang and Singapore. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. Especially images of devotees piercing their cheeks, tongue, face or other suitable body parts with sharp objects make this event memorable.
Thaipusam is a celebration of the birthday to the Hindu deity Subramaniam.
The highlight of this celebration is the kavadi procession. More than one million people are expected to throng Batu Caves (just north of Kuala Lumpur) for this celebration. There is also a big parade in Georgetown, Penang and Singapore (procession is a 4km walk from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple on Tank Road).
Story about a german born kavadi-carrier wich gives a few interesting insights of Thaipusam at Batu Caves and Hindu culture:
Thaipusam in Malaysia, Batu Caves 2007:
more information
Wikipedia Thaipusam
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Every year end of January / beginning of February it is time for the spectacular Thaipusam Festival which is expected to draw more than one million devotees and visitors to the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur but there are also precessions in Georgetown/Penang and Singapore. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. Especially images of devotees piercing their cheeks, tongue, face or other suitable body parts with sharp objects make this event memorable.
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