KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, January 31, 2026 (New Straits Times): Thousands of devotees and tourists converged on Batu Caves today for a Thaipusam celebration filled with color and faith. From as early as dawn, streams of worshippers clad in bright attire made their way up the 272 steps leading to the main temple cave, while curious visitors looked on, cameras in hand, taking in the deeply spiritual atmosphere. Among the crowd was 51-year-old Lordin Sabil, who arrived at the site with his wife, Nobuko Takahashi, 48, at 6am. “This is our second time witnessing Thaipusam here. It is very nice to see how spirited the devotees are when they come to Batu Caves,” he said, describing the celebration as both moving and culturally enriching.

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival in honor of Lord Murugan, the God of war and victory. The celebration is marked by acts of penance such as fasting, body piercing and the carrying of kavadi, which are ornate structures borne on the shoulders. More than 5,000 Hindu devotees began filling the temple grounds early in the morning to fulfil vows and attend religious ceremonies. Over several days up to 3.5 million devotees are estimated to have participated. Apart from performing prayers, contributions of food, bottled mineral water and milk were also prepared for distribution to Hindu devotees as a sign of care and support from the local community. Visitors were also given the chance to donate their blood near the temple entrance through a station set up by the Health Ministry.

Short video at source.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/02/1369155/devotees-tourists-converge-batu-caves-thaipusam-watch

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