Thaipusam Hindu Festival in Kuala Lumpur

The Thaipusam festival is undoubtedly one of the world's most spectacular Hindu celebrations. Celebrated mostly by the Tamil community, in homage to Murugan, Lord Shiva's son, Batu Caves hosts the largest gathering of Hindu devotees in Malaysia. The highlight of this celebration is the kavadi procession and nearly one million people will throng the area for this festival. Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 30/01/2010.

Kuala Lumpur's Thaipusam festival is undoubtedly one of the world's most spectacular celebrations of this Hindu holy day. Thaipusam is a hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil Month (Jan/Feb). It is also referred to as Thaipooyam in the Malayalam language. The word Thai-pusam is derived from the month name Thai and Pusam, which refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates both the birthday of Murugan (also Subramaniam), the youngest son of god Shiva and his wife Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.
In Malaysia Thaipusam celebrated at Batu Caves Murugan Temple.
Batu Caves, located in Gombak district, is said to be the most popular tourist destination in Selangor. It has never ceased to attract visitors, both local and foreign.
Only 15 km north of Kuala Lumpur, the caves consist of three main caves and a number of smaller ones. Visitors could reach the top cave via the 272 steps built specially to scale the steep, jagged face of the limestone outcrop. Batu Caves Murugan Temple has the Highest Lord Murugan Statue in the World. The height of this statue is 42.7 meter.
During the Thaipusam festival, Batu Caves hosts the largest gathering of Hindu devotees in Malaysia. Thaipusam is a religious festival where Hindus pay annual homage to Lord Muruga. The highlight of this celebration is the kavadi procession. Close to one million people throng Batu Caves for this celebration.
Kavadi Attam is a dance performed by the devotees during the ceremonial worship of Murugan, the Tamil God of War. It is often performed during the festival of Thaipusam and emphasizes debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from the God Murugan.
Generally, Hindus take a vow to offer a kavadi to idol for the purpose of tiding over or averting a great calamity. For instance, if the devotee's son is laid up with a fatal disease, he would pray to Shanmuga to grant the boy a lease of life in return for which the devotee would take a vow to dedicate a kavadi to Him