Devotees celebrate Thaipusam with pilgrimage to Hindu temple in Malaysia
World
The festival, which commemorates the birth of the deity Lord Murugan, also take place in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – As the Hindu Thaipusam festival draws millions of devotees to Malaysia's Batu Caves on Tuesday, families and friends not only gather for ritual prayers but a celebration of their strong bonds and vibrant traditions anchored in their shared faith.
The festival, which commemorates the birth of the deity Lord Murugan, takes place in India but also in countries like Malaysia and Singapore which have Tamil Hindu communities.
The ancient ritual of carrying the kavadi, a kind of portable wooden altar that typically weighs dozens of kilogrammes and is decorated with pictures of Hindu gods and peacock feathers, remains a cornerstone of the festival.
For Satish Raj, 26, a third-generation kavadi maker, bearing the kavadi has been a family tradition since childhood, when he was fascinated to see his father ascending the 272 steps to the hilltop Batu Caves carrying the altar.
"I remember when I first saw my father doing kavadi, I was six. So I was thinking, what is my father doing? Then I followed him until the top (the Batu Caves temple),” Satish told Reuters, adding that he carried a small kavadi as well the next year.
The practice of carrying kavadis has passed through generations, and with it has come changes, such as the use of light emitting diodes, or LEDs.
“When my father's time, (the kavadi) got no lights, no LED, nothing, it is a simple one,” 55-year-old Sevaraja, who is Satish’s father, recalled.
Inspired by innovative practices in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Sevaraja plans to send Satish abroad for further training in the craft. Sevaraja believes that merging global techniques with Malaysian heritage will enrich their treasured tradition and keep it alive.
Satish finds it uplifting to witness more young devotees embracing the practice as they reconnect with their roots amid a rapidly changing cultural landscape.
"(It is) very rare (for) youngsters to join,” he said. “But nowadays, in 2025 Thaipusam, I see a lot of youngsters are keen (on) doing kavadi.”
Ravin, 27, a close friend accompanying a devotee carrying a 70-kilogramme (154 lbs) kavadi said their support extends beyond physical endurance, and their presence offers both emotional encouragement and lasting solidarity.
"We want to be there for him every step of the way, not just like every step of the way going up, but also in his life," he said.
