Every Thaipusam, I visit the temple to pray. This is something my family (with the exception of one Christian brother) does every year. This year, my brother and I decided to stay back in Kuala Lumpur, instead of taking a trip back to Penang, and go to Batu Caves for Thaipusam instead. It would be my first time visiting the site (yes, I’m a useless Malaysian for never bothering to visit this place before, I know).

Here are some pics I took as we walked the looooong road from the car to the temple steps.

This bearer was already in a trance, carrying the kavadi :

This looks like a nice design, notice the star-shape:

Lotus-themed kavadi… :

A woman carrying a heavy jug of milk as part of her vow:

This kavadi bearer is dancing – hard to tell in the photo though:

Imagine the amount of hooks on this guy! And there are people pulling on them behind him!

I quite like this peacock-feathered design on this kavadi :

The golden statue of Lord Murugan welcomes the devotees:

The kavadis on the way up the steps into the caves :

A view of the devotees climbing the steps:

All 272 steps up to the caves:

You have to respect this kid for starting his vows young:

Next year, though, I think I’ll go back to Penang to pray during Thaipusam. It seems lonelier and more alien in this concrete city of Kuala Lumpur.