Every year, thousands of Hindus in Singapore celebrate Thaipusam, a festival observed on the full moon day of the Tamil month, Thai.

This year, the festival is celebrated on Friday. Devotees traditionally carry milk pots along a 4km journey from Serangoon Road to Tank Road. Many also carry spiked Kavadis weighing more than 20kg, to show their devotion to the Hindu deity, Lord Murugan.

In 2010, Straits Times photojournalists Samuel He and Desmond Lim followed then 39-year-old Chandru Latchaman and his family as they prepared for the ceremony.

"You'll have to have the pain. No pain, no gain," said Mr Chandru, who belongs to a family of about 40 members. The family had been observing the Thaipusam festival since 1969.

"It's all for Him, so that small thing is not a big deal," he added. Watch Mr Chandru and his family's journey of faith in the video above.