Thaipusam festival marked by walk of the faithful
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Hindu devotees gather at Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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A Hindu devotee carries a Kavadi offering cage while taking part in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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A Chinese devotee dances in his kavadi during Thaipusam in Singapore, Jan 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Richard Morgan Samuel, a Christian, wears his crucifix necklace with his kavadi, during Thaipusam in Singapore January 27, 2013. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival observed on the day of the full moon during the Tamil calendar month of Thai, and celebrated in honour of the Hindu god Lord Murugan. The kavadi is a physical burden carried by the devotee during their worship of Lord Murugan and it symbolises a call for help and also a show of gratitude for blessings received from the god. Samuel has been participating in Thaipusam for the last couple of years. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A Hindu devotee has hooks embedded in his back before participating in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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A Hindu devotee is silhouetted against the sky as he carries a milk pot on his head while participating in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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A Hindu devotee carries a Kavadi offering cage while taking part in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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A Hindu devotee prays near a river during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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A Hindu devotee stands after getting her tongue pierced with a metal rod during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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Hindu devotees with hooks embedded into their backs participate in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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A Hindu devotee gets her forehead pierced with a metal rod during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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A Hindu devotee is pierced with hooks holding apples on his back, two days before the Thaipusam festival, which will be celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Jan 25, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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Hindu devotees take ritual baths in a river, two days before the Thaipusam festival, which will be celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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A Hindu devotee takes a ritual bath during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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Hindu devotees carry milk pots on their heads while participating in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
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Milk pot hanging on the wall during the Thaipusam procession on Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. The annual Thaipusam Festival procession began early today as devotees honoured Hindu deity Lord Murugan. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
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A devotee carrying a kavadi during the Thaipusam procession on Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. The annual Thaipusam Festival procession began early today as devotees honour Hindu deity Lord Murugan. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
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A devotee carrying a kavadi during the Thaipusam procession on Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. The annual Thaipusam Festival procession began early today as devotees honoured Hindu deity Lord Murugan. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
Hindu devotees gather at Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
A Hindu devotee carries a Kavadi offering cage while taking part in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
A Chinese devotee dances in his kavadi during Thaipusam in Singapore, Jan 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Richard Morgan Samuel, a Christian, wears his crucifix necklace with his kavadi, during Thaipusam in Singapore January 27, 2013. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival observed on the day of the full moon during the Tamil calendar month of Thai, and celebrated in honour of the Hindu god Lord Murugan. The kavadi is a physical burden carried by the devotee during their worship of Lord Murugan and it symbolises a call for help and also a show of gratitude for blessings received from the god. Samuel has been participating in Thaipusam for the last couple of years. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A Hindu devotee has hooks embedded in his back before participating in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
A Hindu devotee is silhouetted against the sky as he carries a milk pot on his head while participating in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
A Hindu devotee carries a Kavadi offering cage while taking part in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
A Hindu devotee prays near a river during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
A Hindu devotee stands after getting her tongue pierced with a metal rod during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
Hindu devotees with hooks embedded into their backs participate in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
A Hindu devotee gets her forehead pierced with a metal rod during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
A Hindu devotee is pierced with hooks holding apples on his back, two days before the Thaipusam festival, which will be celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Jan 25, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
Hindu devotees take ritual baths in a river, two days before the Thaipusam festival, which will be celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
A Hindu devotee takes a ritual bath during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
Hindu devotees carry milk pots on their heads while participating in a procession during the Thaipusam festival, which is celebrated in honor of Hindu god Lord Murugan, at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. -- PHOTO: AP
Milk pot hanging on the wall during the Thaipusam procession on Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. The annual Thaipusam Festival procession began early today as devotees honoured Hindu deity Lord Murugan. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
A devotee carrying a kavadi during the Thaipusam procession on Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. The annual Thaipusam Festival procession began early today as devotees honour Hindu deity Lord Murugan. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
A devotee carrying a kavadi during the Thaipusam procession on Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. The annual Thaipusam Festival procession began early today as devotees honoured Hindu deity Lord Murugan. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI
The annual Thaipusam Festival procession began early today as devotees honoured Hindu deity Lord Murugan.
The first batch of devotees carrying milk pots left Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road for Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road just after midnight.
They were followed by carriers of kavadis - intricate structures of steel and wood - is attached to a person's body using 108 vel, or spikes that pierce the carriers' bodies.
The festival procession will carry on till about 11pm tonight, and organisers are expecting a larger turnout than usual because this year's Thaipusam falls on a Sunday.
