Devotees, tourists throng Batu Caves for Thaipusam

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IMPRESSIVE: A Hindu devotee is seen hanging from hooks at Sri Maha Mariaman Dhevasthanam temple at Batu Caves during Thaipusam celebration. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands of Hindu devotees thronged Batu Caves, the focal point of the Thaipusam festival yesterday, where they were joined by a score of local and foreign tourists.

A check by Bernama around the Sri Subramaniam Devasthanam and Kuil Sri Subramaniyar Swami temples found massive crowds standing close as the kavadi procession marched by yesterday morning.

One visitor, S Tangaveelu, 61, said he made it a point to come to Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

“I’ve been here many times already. It used to be not as crowded as it is today (Monday). Ten years ago, those who came here were mostly Hindus.

“Now, everybody is here… the Indians, Malays, Chinese and foreign tourists, which is good. Better still, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is also here. What we are seeing is the spirit of 1Malaysia,” he told Bernama.

Tangaveelu, who came from Port Dickson with his family, said he was pleased to see there was mutual respect for the cultures of the various races in the country.

Jagjit Singh, 70, a Sikh, said he comes to Batu Caves almost every year to witness the celebration.

“I love to see the celebrations of different cultures and religions,” he said.

A tourist from China, David Yan, 40, described Thaipusam as an impressive and unique festival.

“It’s amazing and I feel good; I can see how they pray to God. I love to see the culture. I love to see their make-up, the people and all the materials that they bring,” he said. “In China we don’t have this kind of festival.”

Another tourist, Jonnathan Weathertly, 46, from Britain, who came to Batu Caves to accompany his Hindu wife, said he was excited for the opportunity to join the celebration.

“I take this opportunity to spend my time with my beloved wife and learn about her beautiful culture and customs, and today, you can see that I’m wearing yellow to support my wife,” he said.

A member of the kavadi procession, K Gnangiri, 27, said the procession was to show their gratitude to Lord Murugan for having fulfilled their wish.

“There are other ways to show our gratitude, like walking barefooted from the temple in Jalan Petaling to Batu Caves, shaving our heads or carrying the milk pots or pal kudam and climbing up the 272 stairs to the Sri Subramaniyar Swami temple,” he said.

He said the kavadi can be 50kg to 80kg in weight and decorated according to the creativity of the carriers. — Bernama