“The simplest kavadi is a semicircular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on the shoulders, to the temple. In addition, some have a small spear through their tongue, or a spear through the cheeks. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord Murugan. It also prevents him from speaking and gives great power of endurance. Other types of kavadi involve hooks stuck into the back and either pulled by another walking behind or being hung from a decorated bullock cart or more recently a tractor, with the point of incisions of the hooks varying the level of pain.”
More scenes can be found HERE.
For these devotees, they were pulling the large chariot for the Hindu goddess Kali via ropes which were hooked to the back of their bodies.
Piercing is very common for the devotees.
For some, it was a family affair.
Ropes with hooks attached at the back of the devotees.
Devotees usually prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting approximately 48 days before Thaipusam.
During this day, devotees will shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens). In Penang, the pilgrimage’s common destination is the Waterfall Hill Temple.
Hindus generally take a vow to offer a kavadi to a deity or god for the purpose of tiding over or averting a great calamity.
More scenes can be found HERE.
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community annually. In Malaysia, many Hindu devotees generally will flock to the Batu Caves in Selangor or the Waterfall Temple in Penang to celebrate this festival. One of the main highlights of the festival is the kavadi being carried by devotees seeking help from the God Murugan (as shown in the picture above).
As one of the busiest roads in George Town, Penang Road (or Jalan Penang) is also the main road used by most people traveling in George Town city center. There are a number of smaller roads that connect with Penang Road along the way.
It was found that Penang Road was the first major road built during the British time in Penang and appeared in the original town map created by Sir Francis Light.
A black and white picture of the iconic Standard Chartered building in Beach Street. It is an elegant structure constructed during the pre-war era with a design of palladian architecture. More on the building HERE.
