Thaipusam Festival, Batu Caves, Malaysia

Devotees to Lord Muragan celebrate the festival of Thaipusam at Batu Caves, a sacred Hindu shrine on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

Climbing the 272 sets to the caves, they carry pots of milk on their heads, huge elaborate frames called kavadis on their shoulders, and limes, apples or even coconuts hanging from hooks in their skin. Many of them have skewers or vels piercing their tongue or cheeks. The devotees claim not to feel any physical pain through these endurances due to...
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Devotees to Lord Muragan celebrate the festival of Thaipusam at Batu Caves, a sacred Hindu shrine on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

Climbing the 272 sets to the caves, they carry pots of milk on their heads, huge elaborate frames called kavadis on their shoulders, and limes, apples or even coconuts hanging from hooks in their skin. Many of them have skewers or vels piercing their tongue or cheeks. The devotees claim not to feel any physical pain through these endurances due to being in a devotional and spiritual trance.

International medical experts have visited the event over the years, attempting to explain whether the lime juice squeezed over their bodies, the white ash smeared on their skin, or the milk poured over them helps to numb the skin, but have left without any answers. The devotees just put it down to faith.
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