Kuala Lumpur

More than a million Hindus in Malaysia today celebrated the colourful Thaipusam festival, thronging temples to offer prayers to Lord Murugan as Prime Minister Najib Razak greeted the devotees saying the festival showcases the “true spirit” of the multi-ethnic country.

“Although religious in nature, the Thaipusam celebration in Malaysia showcases to the world our diversity with Malaysians respecting and accepting each other’s culture, religion and beliefs,” Najib wrote on his official website.

“We must continue to uphold these noble principles to further strengthen our solidarity and national unity in the true spirit of Malaysia.”

The country of roughly 29 million people has a majority population of Malays who are all Muslims, 25 per cent ethnic Chinese, mostly Christians or Buddhists, and eight per cent ethnic Indians who are mostly Hindus.

The celebrations saw thousands of people balancing milk pots on their heads and carrying elaborately decorated home-made wooden frames called “kavadis” on their shoulders and climbing the 272 steps to the limestone hilltop temple of Batu caves housing the shrine of Lord Murugan.

Kavadi, meaning “sacrifice at every step”, can weigh as much as 100 kilogramme and are typically affixed to a person’s body using sharp metal spikes.

Many devotees sported long metallic skewers stuck through their flesh in a form of penance, attracting huge attention.

Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the Tamil month “Thai” and the star “Pusam” which is said to be at its highest point during this festival.

Most ethnic Indian Tamils in Malaysia are descendants of labourers brought from Tamil Nadu by the British rulers of Malaysia to work in rubber plantations.

Thaipusam is celebrated with great pomp in the northwestern Penang state. This year, the grand Silver Chariot used in the Thaipusam celebration there is reportedly 120 years old.

The Lord Murugan idol inside the chariot, weighing 4 kgs, is 160 years old and is made of five precious metals gold, copper, silver, tin and brass and is studded with diamonds and gems.

“Lord Muruga is depicted standing on a golden peacock, his favourite animal, and beside him is a small gold statue of Lord Ganesha, his brother,” a temple trustee in Penang said.

Meanwhile, three Hindu devotees in a Thaipusam procession near the capital Kuala Lumpur were killed in a car crash. The driver surrendered today and has been detained. PTI