Archive · 1 Feb 2026
Malaysia's Hindus Celebrate Thaipusam with Piercings and Prayer
In Malaysia, many people who follow Hinduism celebrated a special festival called Thaipusam.
They gathered at a famous place called Batu Caves, which has a very tall statue of Lord Murugan.
Some people showed their devotion by piercing their bodies with hooks and carrying heavy metal structures called kavadis.
They walked up many steps to the temple to offer milk and pray.
This festival is also celebrated in other countries with large Hindu communities.
It's a time for people to thank Lord Murugan for his blessings and ask for a better future.
Hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees gathered at Batu Caves in Malaysia to celebrate Thaipusam.
Many pilgrims pierced their bodies with hooks and skewers, and carried heavy kavadis as offerings.
The festival commemorates the day when goddess Parvathi gave Lord Murugan a powerful lance to fight evil demons.
The Batu Caves complex, featuring a 43-meter tall Murugan statue, is expected to draw 2.5 million visitors.
Devotees walked barefoot up 272 steps to the temple, carrying milk pots or kavadis, and prayed to Lord Murugan.
- Who
- Hindu devotees in Malaysia, primarily ethnic Indians
- What
- Celebration of Thaipusam festival
- When
- Sunday (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Batu Caves, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Why
- To commemorate the day when goddess Parvathi gave Lord Murugan a powerful lance to fight evil demons
- Location
- Batu Caves, Malaysia
- Festival
- Thaipusam
- Main Deity
- Lord Murugan
- Statue Height
- 43 meters (141 feet)
- Expected Visitors
- 2.5 million
- Steps to Temple
- 272
- Kavadi Weight
- Up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds)