In pictures : Thaipusam 2018 | The Malaysian Insight

In pictures : Thaipusam 2018

David ST Loh Hasnoor Hussain Nazir Sufari7 years ago31st Jan 2018Pictures

Thaipusamd2 pg dloh-8078 — A Hindu devotee Mahesh Ray-ya waits after pinning 400 tiny milk pots onto his body as he partricipates in the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

THOUSANDS of Hindu devotees started their annual Thaipusam procession across the country yesterday.

This year’s procession will, for the first time, be cut short as Hindu temples will close before a lunar eclipse takes place tonight.

The annual Hindu festival, which falls on the full-moon day of the Tamil month of Thai, is celebrated in honour of Lord Subramaniam, also known as Lord Muruga, who represents virtue, youth and power, and is the destroyer of evil. - January 31, 2018.

Hindu devotees prepare to walk towards Batu Caves temple to make offerings during the Thaipusam Festival. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, January 31, 2018.

Hindu devotees surround the silver chariot as it travels along the streets of George Town during the Thaipusam celebrations yesterday. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

Gold and silver chariots are seen during the Thaipusam procession in Kuala Lumpur. Instead of only the 7.3m high silver chariot bearing Lord Muruga and his consort’s Valli and Theivana making the journey to the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves, this year they were accompanied by a 6.7m high golden chariot carrying Lord Vinayagar. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devote in a trance during Thaipusam festival in Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 31, 2018.

Hindu devotees climb the 272 steps to reach Sri Subramaniar Temple during the Thaipusam festival in Batu Caves. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devotee dances during a procession to Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devotee pierces her mouth with an iron rod during the Thaipusam festival in Batu Caves. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devotee carries a kavadi during the Thaipusam festival in Batu Caves. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 31, 2018.

Hooks pierce a Hindu devotee’s back during the Thaipusam festival in Batu Caves. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 31, 2018.

Lord Murugan’s statue is seen at the front of Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 31, 2018.

Bird’s eye view of Hindu devotees surrounding the silver chariot as it travels along the streets of George Town during the Thaipusam celebrations yesterday. – The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devotee performs a ritual in a river before walking towards the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves to make an offering during the Thaipusam festival. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, January 31, 2018.

A young Hindu devotee makes his way towards the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves to make an offering during the Thaipusam festival. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devotee Mahesh Ray-ya waits after pinning 400 tiny milk pots onto his body as he partricipates in the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

A giant float decorated with the idol of a Hindu God partricipate in the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

Hindu devotee with hooks pierced onto his back partricipates in the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

Hindu devotee recovers after fainting while being pinned with milk pots on his torso during the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

A photographer takes picture of Hindu devotees and the kavadis as they partricipate in the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devotee Mahesh Ray-ya drinks water as he endures 400 tiny milk pots being pinned onto his body during the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devotee receives blessings from a priest during the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devotee with his cheeks and tongue pierced and his body hooked, partricipates in the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devotee rest after putting on his kavadi and milk pots as he partricipate in the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration by walking through the streets of George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

A Hindu devotee receives blessings from a priest during the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

Hindu devotees with tiny milk pots pinned onto their bodies participate in the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.

Hindu devotees wait at Nattukotai Chettiar Temple as they partricipate in the annual three-day Thaipusam celebration in George Town, Penang. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, January 31, 2018.