Hindu devotees carry milk pots as they perform their pilgrimage to Batu Caves temple during the Thaipusam festival outside Kuala Lumpur January 20, 2011.

A Hindu devotee (R) enters a trance before he performs his pilgrimage to Batu Caves temple during the Thaipusam festival outside Kuala Lumpur January 20, 2011.

A Hindu devotee with his cheeks and tongue pierced with skewers, enters a trance as he performs his pilgrimage to Batu Caves temple during the Thaipusam festival outside Kuala Lumpur January 20, 2011.

A Hindu devotee enters a trance before he performs his pilgrimage to Batu Caves temple during the Thaipusam festival outside Kuala Lumpur January 20, 2011.

Thaipusam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம்) is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan/Feb). It is also referred to as Thaipooyam or Thaippooyam in the Malayalam language. Pusam refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates both the birthday of Lord Murugan (also Subramaniam), the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.

*source from wikipedia

A Hindu devotee take a special shower before beginning their pilgrimage to the sacred Batu Caves temple during Thaipusam festival in Kuala Lumpur, February 8, 2009.

Hindu devotee, carrys kavadi and make their way to the sacred Batu Caves temple during Thaipusam festival in Kuala Lumpur on February 8, 2009. Kavadi-bearers have to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of assuming the kavadi and at the time of offering it to Lord Murugan.