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February 8, 2017 - Georgetown, Penang Island, Malaysia: Hindu devotees during the colourful annual procession of Thaipusam in Georgetown, Penang Island, Malaysia. Thaipusam sees Hindu devotees in Malaysia seeking blessings, fulfilling vows and offering thanks.  Thaipusam is a celebration in honour of the Hindu deity Lord Murugan, who represents virtue, youth and power, and is the destroyer of evil. Worshippers at the extreme Hindu celebration pierce their cheeks with spears or put hooks in their skin to show their devotion.
An indian bridal turmeric haldi paste on her hand
South East Asia, batu caves, kuala lumpur, malaysia, praying, worship, thaipusam, blessing, Kavadi Attam
A devotee with body piercing carries a kavadi (burden) during the Thaipusam festival in Singapore.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. January 2019.    A man during the prayer in the temples inside Batu Caves
Pilgrimage of devotees to the Batu Caves during the celebration of Thaipusam in Malaysia. This children carry Cavadis as an offering to the God Murugan. Every year this Hindu festival celebrates that goddess Parvati gave Murugan, the god of War, a spear to defeat demon Soorapadman. During the festival crowds of devotees visit the Batu caves to pray and perform various acts of devotion, from carrying a pot of milk as an offering to the god to piercing their skin and flesh with hooks and small or large spears and also carrying a Cavadi, a decorated structure that has to be carried till the top of the caves in honor to God Murugan.. Around one million people visit the caves during the festival
Hindu Devotee at Thaipusam procession
Malaysian Hindu devotees walk with their body pierced to the Batu Caves temple during the Thaipusam festival in Kuala Lumpur. Devotees subject themselves to painful rituals in a demonstration of faith and penance.
a back of the male hindu indian prayer pierced and pulling the statue of god with hooks on his back heading toward batu cave temple during thaipusamThaipusam is a colourful annual celebration in honour of the Hindu god Subramanian, with festivities mainly taking place in Batu Caves – a limestone hill with a series of caverns and temples about 13km north of KL. It is a famous festival largely because of the practice of devotees who impale their bodies with long metal skewers during the event. Celebrated by the city’s Indian community, Thaipusam is one of the best times to visit Batu Caves. 272 stairs lead to the top and just inside the front door, piles of stone slabs have fashioned out a sort of Norman arch that frames a giant, granite-carved statue of Lord Subramanian.
Gold jewelry is placed on the bride’s wrist by parents as part of a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony. The photo conveys cultural heritage, symbolic blessings, and intergenerational participation in wedding customs.
Penang, Malaysia - February 11, 2025:  A Hindu devotee with piercings during the Thaipusam celebration, a Tamil Hindu festival celebrated Tamil Hindu festival celebrated on the first full moon day of the Tamil month of Tai which is coincides during mid January to mid February.
Hindu male devotee is holding milk pot during Thaipusam celebration. Milk pot offerings: Devotees carry these pots to Lord Murugan, symbolizing devotion and gratitude.
The scene alludes to Afro-Brazilian, popular Catholic, or syncretic religious practices, in which sacred images are adorned and ritually touched during festivals, processions, and celebrations.
Pilgrimage of devotees to the Batu Caves during the celebration of Thaipusam in Malaysia. This pilgrim is carrying a Cavadi. Every year this Hindu festival celebrates that goddess Parvati gave Murugan, the god of War, a spear to defeat demon Soorapadman. During the festival crowds of devotees visit the Batu caves to pray and perform various acts of devotion, from carrying a pot of milk as an offering to the god to piercing their skin and flesh with hooks and small or large spears and also carrying a Cavadi, a decorated structure that has to be carried till the top of the caves in honor to God Murugan.. Around one million people visit the caves during the festival
Extreme close-up of metal hooks and chains pierced through a devotee's skin during the Hindu festival of Thaipusam.
01 February 2026, George Town - Penang Island.A devotee carries a kavadi with vels piercing his forehead and cheeks during the Thaipusam festival, demonstrating determination, devotion, and penance to Lord Murugan.
a male indian hindu prayer spiritually getting himself ready and heading towards batu cave hindu temple to worship the hindu god during the thaipusam in malaysia Thaipusam is a colourful annual celebration in honour of the Hindu god Subramanian, with festivities mainly taking place in Batu Caves – a limestone hill with a series of caverns and temples about 13km north of KL. It is a famous festival largely because of the practice of devotees who impale their bodies with long metal skewers during the event. Celebrated by the city’s Indian community, Thaipusam is one of the best times to visit Batu Caves. 272 stairs lead to the top and just inside the front door, piles of stone slabs have fashioned out a sort of Norman arch that frames a giant, granite-carved statue of Lord Subramanian.
A hindu devotee making the painful pilgrimage  to Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur. Focus is on the rope.
hanging milk bottle on the body Thaipusam festival
Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia - February 05, 2023: Metal pots with offerings hooked on the back of a Hindu devotee at Thaipusam
August 3, 2020, Chengail, West Bengal, India- Sister tying rakhi on wrist of her brother.
Hindu devotee with multiple kavadis on his procession of Thaipusam (Singapore, 2023). A close-up photo of how the kavadi is attached to the body.
Batu Caves, Malaysia - January 21 2019 : Close-up of men devotee carrying a cavadi and having a ritual in Thaipusam Festival.
Serangoon, Singapore - January 30, 2010: A Hindu devotee piercing hooks to body in Thaipusam the Hindu festival
Hindu male devotee is holding milk pot during Thaipusam celebration. Milk pot offerings: Devotees carry these pots to Lord Murugan, symbolizing devotion and gratitude.
01 February 2026, George Town - Penang Island.A devotee walks with vels attached to his back, symbolizing endurance and devotion during the Thaipusam festival. This visually striking practice reflects his personal commitment and determination in honoring Lord Murugan.
Close-up of Indian priest hands using yellow threads to hang a gold pendant thali during pooja in a South Indian Hindu wedding ceremony.
Metal scribing instrument for palm scrolls, Samudragiri Viharaya Buddhist temple, Mirissa, Sri Lanka. Samudragiri Viharaya, aka Veheragalla Samudragiri Viharaya, Buddhist temple renowned for its well-preserved murals from the Kandyan era, showing Jataka tales and Buddhist themes. Sri Lanka is the tropical Indian Ocean island formerly known as Ceylon, situated off the southeastern tip of India, renowned for its tea, rubber and precious stone production throughout the world.
Focus on male Hindu devotee's back with hooks during Thaipusam celebration.During Thaipusam, devotees engage in various rituals, including body piercing with hooks and skewers (kavadis) to symbolize self-sacrifice and seek blessings from Lord Murugan.
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