Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the Tamil community in Malaysia. It is held annually in the Tamil month of Thai, which usually falls in January or February. The festival is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Tamil god of war, and is celebrated with remarkable devotion and enthusiasm. Devotees carry kavadis, or wooden frames, which are decorated with peacock feathers and offerings, and often pierce their bodies with hooks, skewers, and small lances in a display of faith and penance. The most famous Thaipusam celebration takes place at the stunning Batu Caves, located just outside Kuala Lumpur.
