Thaipusam

Thaipusam is celebrated annually, in January or February. The Hindus celebrate this profoundly religious event of penance and thanks in the 10th month of the Hindu calendar.

The festival begins with a procession of the elaborately decorated statue of Lord Muruga, the God of Prosperity, hauled by bullocks from the Maha Mariamman Temple to the Batu Caves.

Thaipusam is an Indian festival. It's a celebration for the son of Shiva (Subramaniam) and the becoming "one" of Pusan and the Brihaspati stars.

There are two places in Malaysia, where Thaipusam is celebrated. That's in Kuala Lumpur (Batu Caves) and on Penang. Every year in Kuala Lumpur, as many as 900,000 devotees and other visitors may throng the caves to celebrate the Thaipusam. During this festival a devotee wishes to carry a kavadi. The kavadis is placed on the shoulders of the devotee. Women carry a silver jug full of milk on their heads. They will follow strictly a vegetarian diet and some even sleep on the hard floor for months preparing themselves for the day.

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Contact Information

Thaipusam
Batu Caves Sri Subramaniam Temple
68100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel. +60322879422

http://www.malaysiasite.nl/thaipusameng.htm