Hindus and tourists throng Batu Caves
KUALA LUMPUR: The beat of traditional drums and chants of “Vel vel!” from the droves of Hindu devotees cut through the calmness of the morning, creating a carnival-like atmosphere in Batu Caves.
Devotees thronged the temple complex to offer their prayers and thanksgiving to Lord Muruga on Thaipusam day.
Clad in bright colours, they made their way up the temple steps, with some bearing paal kudam (milk pots) on their shaven heads while others carried colourful kavadis as a sign of gratitude.
Call centre assistant B. Durgaambiga, 24, was on her knees climbing the 272 steps leading up to the temple, bringing with her a 20kg karagam (offering pot).
Durgaambiga, who was carrying the karagam for the eighth year, said she wanted to thank Lord Muruga for always answering her prayers.
She had observed a vegetarian diet for 54 days in preparation for the feat yesterday.
She was accompanied by her mother W. Athiletcheny, 54, and relative K. Nirosha, 19, who also came with her mother Y. Vasanthi, 44.
It was Nirosha’s first time carrying a karagam, weighing about 6kg, during Thaipusam.
“I had been planning to do this for a long time, but only managed to carry it (up to the temple) this year,” said the administration staffer.
Vasanthi, a store assistant, carried a paal kudam and had a vel (spear) piercing her cheek.
American tourists Jessica Cole, 28, and Sarah Klarich, 25, also made the journey up the flight of stairs along with thousands of devotees.
“I like that Malaysia is a multicultural country and that people are able to celebrate their diverse cul- tures,” said Cole, a psychologist.
Klarich, an engineer, said she liked that Thaipusam was a national celebration.
Fellow tourists Karla Venegas, 28, and Daniel Cerny, 22, said they were holidaying in Penang when their taxi driver told them about Thaipusam.
“So we flew here to see it,” said Venegas, who hails from Costa Rica. Cerny, of the Czech Republic, said “we have never seen anything like this before”. Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin posted a short video of his deputy, Datuk M. Saravanan, who is also MIC vice-president, carrying a kavadi in Batu Caves yesterday. Khairy added a caption in the clip: “Can your Deputy Minister do this? Happy Thaipusam, Anei (brother) Sara.”