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Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur - Batu Caves - Thaipusam Festival - 56bb
Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur - Batu Caves - Thaipusam Festival - 56bb

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). It is mainly observed in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar.

The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the month, Thai, and the name of a star, Pusam. This particular star is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a Vel "spear" so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. There is a misconception among people that Thaipusam marks Murugan's birthday; however, it is believed that Vaikhasi Vishakam, which falls in the Vaikhasi month (May/June), is Murugan's birthday.

In Malaysia, the temple at Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur, often attracts over one million devotees and tens of thousands of tourists. The procession to the caves starts at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur in the heart of the city and proceeds for 15 kilometers to the caves, an 8-hour journey culminating in a flight of 272 steps to the top. Devotees carry containers containing milk as offering to Lord Murugan either by hand or in huge decorated carriers on their shoulders called 'kavadi'. The kavadi may be simple wooden arched semi-circular supports holding a carrier foisted with brass or clay pots of milk or huge, heavy ones which may rise up to two metres, built of bowed metal frames which hold long skewers, the sharpened end of which pierce the skin of the bearers torso. The kavadi is decorated with flowers and peacock feathers imported from India. Some kavadi may weigh as much as a hundred kilograms. After bathing in the nearby Sungei Batu (Rocky River), the devotees make their way to the Temple Cave and climb the flights of stairs to the temple in the cave. Devotees use the wider centre staircase while worshippers and onlookers throng up and down those balustrades on either side. When the kavadi bearer arrives at the foot of the 272-step stairway leading up to the Temple Cave, the devotee has to make the arduous climb. Priests attend to the kavadi bearers. Consecrated ash is sprinkled over the hooks and skewers piercing the devotees' flesh before they are removed. No blood is shed during the piercing and removal.

WIKIPEDIA

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Taken on: January 25, 2005
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Sets appears in:   • Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur - Batu Caves - Thaipusam Festival - Videography    • asienman-photoart    more » • Malaysia - Thaipusam At Batu Caves    « less
Camera: Olympus C8080WZ, f/2.4, 1/6 sec, 7.4mm, ISO 50 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Olympus C8080WZ
Aperture: f/2.4
Exposure Time: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Focal Length: 7.4mm
ISO: 50
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Creative (Slow speed)
Exposure Mode: Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Scene Capture Type: Night
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Sharpness: Hard
Color Space: sRGB
Software: ACDSee Ultimate 2023
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