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As the noise and sounds of the festival drew us into solidarity with the crowd, the Swami began his chants and prayers. The first student, a young man was put to the test. Swami clasped the devotee's head between his hands, continued his prayer and a flicked of his thumb on the student's forehead, between his brows and wham! The student stumbled back and was helped up by others - his facial expression, his movements, and his cries - transformed. Under a trance, he took on a manifestation of Lord Murugan's persona. Sometimes, even bystanders can fall into a trance and have to be coaxed out of this semi-conscious state by the swami. So be careful, the atmosphere could be so overpowering, It may overcome you!
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As the initial trance subsided, it was replaced by a differing state of trance whereby the devotee seemed very aware of his surroundings but was reported to be in a 'form of heightened supercharged awareness'. We found it a little unnerving, watching each go under trance but at the same time we could only watch in admiration of such devotion. Having checked out the entire journey from the riverbank to the shrine - it was by no means a simple feat. Only the strong spirited will be able to complete the pilgrimage. And having seen the 'burden' of which some of them had with them, the task seemed almost impossible to us.
But there they were, all six of them - young, determined, physically fit, mentally alert and spiritually calm.
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Once in a trance, trident-like spears, hooks and other sharp objects were skewered into the flesh of the devotee by the swami. The entire scene was almost surreal. The intoxicating scents of incense, the powerful mental and spiritual endurance, witnessing human being's ability to transcend to a different level of being where grisly, abominable self-mortification bears no suffering to the devoted.
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For some, the Kavathi ('burdens' in Tamil) was placed on the shoulders of the devotee. The kavathi represents a miniature shrine in which Lord Murugan's idol or a framed painting of his Lord is seated. A jug of milk completes the kavathi. Chains are dropped from the central body of the kavathi and hooked onto the flesh of the bearer. The length of the spears had to be limited to a metre in consideration for other devotees. With almost a million people attending the procession, it would definitely be a grizzly affair if the lances got in the way of a jostling crowd. Others hook limes, oranges or coconuts onto their bodies.
Usually kavathi bearers will have two vels with them, one pierced through the cheeks and the other pushed through the tongue. This has a significant meaning; that the devotee has temporarily renounced the gift of speech so that he may channel his energy upon Lord Murugan and that under His protection, the devotee does not shed a drop of blood nor feel any pain.
Women carried a silver jug full of milk on their heads, some pierced vels through their cheeks and tongues and others not. The kavathi bearers were always accompanied by an entourage of relatives and friends to egg them on with dance parades, songs, musicians playing the melam(drum) and the natheswaram(flute) and the chants of 'vel,vel, vetri vel' - the symbol of the golden spear used to defeat the evil forces. The young men in the entourage formed a protective barrier round the kavathi bearers and the ones preceding the bearer engaged in dance rituals known as the 'kavathi dance', reflecting Lord Murugan's role as Lord of the Dance.
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As they arrive at the shrine, the milk was poured over the golden vel and the kavathi lifted off the bearer. The Swami removed the miniature spears (vels), hooks etc, sprinkled holy ash on the slight nicks on the skin and the bearer was brought out of his trance. The vow was finally fulfilled. Faces of elation and relief all round, including bystanders like us. Feeling with them and for them through the 2 hour ordeal was indeed intense to say the least and watching them at the end of it all - their devotion, their spiritual accomplishment and the solidarity of the group and beyond has won our admiration. In spite of what we perceive as a gruesome demonstration of bodily mortification and sometimes to extremities, Thaipusam is what it is and will always be-a celebration of life, of spiritual attainment, of good presiding over evil and of Lord Murugan - the emancipator.
Dated: 20th February 2001
Thaipusam is celebrated at various sites in Peninsular Malaysia, namely;
1. Kuala Lumpur
At Batu Caves, procession starts on the eve of Thaipusam from the Sri Mariamman Temple in the town centre all the way to Batu Caves, 15km from city centre. Most activities happen at Batu Caves, so just get yourself to the caves if you're not into filming the entire procession for your home video collection.
2. Penang
Procession starts on the eve of Thaipusam from the Chettiar Temple in Penang Street where the silver chariot leaves on a journey to the Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple at Waterfall Road. You may want to skip Penang Street and head for the Sivan Temple at Dato Kramat Road where ablutions are performed, and trances and piercing of body are conducted.
Back to main page Thaipusam ...
Accommodation and Holiday Packages to Batu Caves
It is recommended to take day trips to Batu Caves from KL. Only 1/2hr - 45min car ride. Refer to Kuala Lumpur article for places to stay.
Kuala Lumpur / Selangor & Surrounding Day Tours
Day tours within Kuala Lumpur ~ | KL City Tour | Country & Batu Caves Tour | Cultural Night Tour | Garden & Parks Tour | Templer's Park Tour | KL Cultural & Heritage Tour | A day in Rainforest Tour | National Zoo & School of Hard Knock Tour | Putra Jaya & Agricultural Park Tour | Sunway Lagoon Tour |
Day Tours Outside of Kuala Lumpur ~ | Historical Malacca Tour |
Genting Highlands Tour | Pulau Ketam Tour |
Day Nature/Adventure Tours Outside of Kuala Lumpur ~ | Elephant Sanctuary Trip | Fire Fly & Kuala Selangor Trip | White Water Rafting at Sungai Selangor | Water Tubing at Sungai Selangor |
Day Tours within Kuala Lumpur |
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Tours |
Hrs |
Day of Operations |
Departure |
Min Pax |
Include |
Rate |
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AM |
PM |
Adult (RM) |
Child (RM) |
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KL City |
3.5 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
2.30-2.45 |
- |
- |
60 |
30 |
Country & Batu Caves |
3.5 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
2.30-2.45 |
- |
- |
60 |
30 |
Cultural Night (Itinerary) |
3.5 |
Daily |
- |
6.45-7.00 |
2 |
Dinner & Show |
130 |
90 |
Garden & Parks (Itinerary) |
3.5 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Entrance to Bird & Butterfly Park |
120 |
70 |
Templer's Park (Itinerary) |
3.5 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
- |
120 |
80 |
KL Cultural & Heritage (Itinerary) |
5 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Lunch |
120 |
80 |
A day in Rainforest (Itinerary) |
5 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Lunch |
180 |
150 |
National Zoo & School of Hard Knock (Itinerary) |
6 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Entrance to Zoo & Course Fee |
120 |
100 |
Putra Jaya & Agricultural Park (Itinerary) |
6 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Entrance to Agr. Park |
150 |
100 |
Sunway Lagoon (Itinerary) * |
8 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Entrance fee - Water & Amusement Park only |
135 |
90 |
* Sunway Lagoon : Closed on Tuesdays except on Malaysia/Singapore School Holiday & Malaysia Public Holiday
Please Note:
~ Surcharge of RM30/person during Ramadhan Season for Cultural Night Tour
~ Country & Batu Caves not available for 3 days of Thaipusam Festival (Eve of Thaipusam, Thaipusam Day and Day after Thaipusam)
~ Full Charges apply to NO SHOW OR LAST MINUTE CANCELLATION
Day Tours outside of Kuala Lumpur |
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Tours |
Hrs |
Day of Operations |
Departure |
Min Pax |
Include |
Rate |
||
AM |
PM |
Adult (RM) |
Child (RM) |
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Historical Malacca (Itinerary) |
8 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Lunch |
120 |
80 |
Genting Highlands (Itinerary) |
6 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Cable Car |
100 |
60 |
Pulau Ketam Rural Adventure (Itinerary) |
8 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Lunch |
180 |
90 |
Please Note:
~ Full Charges apply to NO SHOW OR LAST MINUTE CANCELLATION
Day Nature Tours outside of Kuala Lumpur |
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Tours |
Hrs |
Day of Operations |
Departure |
Min Pax |
Include |
Rate |
||
AM |
PM |
Adult (RM) |
Child (RM) |
|||||
Elephant Sanctuary (Itinerary) |
8 |
Daily |
9.30-9.45 |
- |
2 |
Entrance fee & Lunch |
195 |
130 |
Fire Fly & K. Selangor (Itinerary) |
8 |
Daily |
- |
3.15-3.30 |
2 |
Dinner & Boat Ride |
190 |
100 |
Please Note:
~ Full Charges apply to NO SHOW OR LAST MINUTE CANCELLATION
* Pick-up and drop-off service from major hotels at Kuala Lumpur town centre * For other pick up and drop off services in areas other than KL centre, please advise us. Additional surcharge will be accorded * Services of an English Speaking Driver * Touring by air-conditioned car or van (depending on the group size) * Admission to attraction and meals where applicable (refer to itinerary) * Child age 2-11 years old * Any unused services are non-refundable, non-exchangeable and non-deductible * 100% cancellation charge applies for no-show or cancellation within 48-hrs
* Sunway Lagoon : Closed on Tuesday - Except Malaysia/Singapore School Holiday & Malaysia Public Holiday
Postponements of Trip:
* Please be advised that the trip will not be allowed to be postponed unless we are advised of any changes at least 3 working days before trip commencement date
**Please Note that there will be a non-refundable handling charge on payment made. Conditions apply.
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Accommodation and Packages to Kuala Lumpur , KLIA , Petaling Jaya, Damansara , Subang , Sunway, Putrajaya, Kuala Kubu Bahru , Kuala Selangor, Klang and Surroundings
Malaysia Cultural Activities, Festivals and Arts, People
Festivals |
| Thaipusam (Hindu) | Keng Chek Festival (Taoist) | Hungry Ghost Festival(Taoist) | Moon Cake Festival (Chinese) | Ari Muyang Hma' Meri (Orang Asli) | |
Cloth Weaving |
| Songket Weaving | Pua Kumbu | Dastar of Sabah | Kain Tenun Pahang | |
Street Markets/Art |
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Cultural Villages/Centres |
| Sarawak Cultural Village | Monsopiad Cultural Village - Sabah | Kampung Sumangkap (Gong making village) - Sabah | Kampung Gombizau (Honey Bee farm) - Sabah | |
Traditional Sarawak houses |
| Bidayuh longhouse | Iban longhouse | Penan huts | Orang Ulu longhouse | Melanau tallhouse | |
Sabah Peoples/Traditions |
| The Rungus | |
Getting There and Away
Best Time to Go
Historical site activities
