Thaipusam or Thaipoosam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai around January and February. It is mainly observed in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Mauritius.
It is observed as a day of thanksgiving and paying penance for Lord Murugan. In many states such as Malaysia, Thaipusam is a public holiday. The devotees prepare themselves for the occasion by cleansing their bodies through fasting and abstinence. They usually observe a vegetarian diet for a certain period of time. Many devotees began paying penance a few days before the actual festival, with the carrying of the kavadi; a decorated structure bearing the image of several deities including Lord Murugan, on their shoulders and pal kodum (milk pots) carried above their heads.
Picture Lord Murugan
In Malaysia, the temple at Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur often attracts over one million devotees and thousands of tourists. The procession to the caves starts at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur in the heart of the city and proceeds for 15 kilometres to the caves, an 8 hour journey culminating in a flight of 272 steps to the top. Devotees carry containers containing milk as offering to Lord Murugan either by hand or in kavadi.
The examples of Kavadi
After bathing in the nearby Sungei Batu (Rocky River), the devotees make their way to the Temple Cave and climb the flights of stairs to the temple in the cave. When the kavadi bearer arrives at the foot of the 272-step stairway leading up to the Temple Cave, the devotee has to make the ardous climb. Priests attend 5 kavadi bearers. Consecrated ash is sprinkled over the hooks and skewers piercing the devotees' flesh before they are removed. No blood is shed during the piercing and removal of the kavadi.
This is how the piercing is done
Here's a video on how the Thaipusam in Batu Caves takes place :)
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