Saturday, January 30, 2010

Colours of Thaipusam, Batu Caves

30th January 2010, Saturday morning woke up early to catch the train from Sentul to Batu Caves to capture the colours of Thaipusam. Arrived Sentul train station at 7 am and it was already packed with people. RM5.00 for return ticket package plus mineral water for a 15 minutes ride, only two stops at Kg Batu and Taman Wahyu.

Lord Muruga greetings....
First place I headed to was the river across the railway tracks where all the action starts. On the left side once I got down from the station platform. The place were devotees pray, get a hair cut, place offerings along the river and kavadi carriers to get into a trance....





Are the hooks enough....







This is hardcode.... parents please make sure your children don't try at home!!!



A 'sami' (monk) praying....


Scenes from the river side was just so serene. for a moment it felt very peaceful although drums and music was playing out loudly nearby


Shower cap not needed here


offerings to the god...

ah! feels lighter now
hmmm guess what they do with the extra hair ?

Offering milk at the river


Water flows from hills above Batu Caves....darn cold especially at 7am morning
I'm still alive don't worry
One of my favourite shot here....
















I felt very strong aura in this place where kavadi carriers get into a trance after praying to the gods. Meaning...gods or 'devas' go into their bodies for a moment while heavy drum beats and loud singing were played non stop. That is why they do not feel pain with hooks and spears in their body




This man was out of control...was not himself

Good over Evil....PEACE !

Bulan Sabit was around
he had good smell from the curry leaves

HOLY SMOKE...on a high



Lord Hanuman, the mighty monkey general. You can just look at it for hours
Can't imagine the feeling of climbing 272 steps with hooks or other props for the kavadi carriers


See you in 2011....from Doraemon, Tweety, Ben 10, Sponge Bob...etc