Preparations and booths set-up have began for the celebration of the Thaipusam festival this coming Tuesday (11 February).
Thousands of devotees will walk barefoot, carrying kavadis or pots of milk as offerings to Lord Murugan, with some even piercing their bodies as a form of penance. The air will be thick with the sound of drums, chants, and prayers as the massive silver chariot makes its way from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Georgetown to the Waterfall Hilltop Temple. The streets will be packed with people, both locals and tourists, soaking in the atmosphere, enjoying free food from stalls, and witnessing one of the most intense and visually striking festivals in Malaysia.