BATU CAVES: While Hindus rejoiced to celebrate Lord Muruga on Thaipusam at Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple Batu Caves, visitors too did not want to miss out on the grandeur of the festival.
With celebration at its peak today, tourists from different countries were also seen joining the procession and prayers for the experience.
Among them was a tourist who wanted to be known only as Magalyne from Poland coming all the way after hearing so much about it from her other friends.
She said it was the first time she had ever seen such lively crowd and vibrant colours at a celebration.
"This is a new and exciting cultural experience for me, and I am delighted to see Hindus celebrating their colourful and joyful festival.
"In spite of the crowds, I enjoy this cultural celebration very much," she said.
Thai national Phi Nya Wi who lives in Kuala Lumpur said this was the first cultural event she had observed while being in Malaysia.
"I really like the devotees in trance walk with kavadis, piercings and milk pots.
"The colourful kavadi bearers carrying the decorated kavadis of various designs and colours was new and fascinating to watch," said the 28-year-old when met at the temple today.
Although she was familiar with processions back home in Thailand, she said this was the first time she had ever witnessed such a large crowd at a temple, especially when comparing it to her country's cultural festivals.
Meanwhile, a curious local, Lim Zhew Gin, an art teacher at the International Heritage School, said his friends wanted to have a first-hand experience of seeing the unique celebration so he had brought them along.
The 24-year-old said he had witnessed Thaipusam once before and want his friends to also feel the positive vibe he felt before.
"Malaysia is home to such a diverse population, my friends and I took advantage of a public holiday to attend a traditional Hindu festival - Thaipusam.
"We can see the annual event up-close. So I came to photograph the colourful celebrations and the devotees' thanksgiving rituals."
After three years of Covid-19 restrictions and "fear of crowds", he said he managed to show up with friends to attend the festival.
He said he intended to climb up to the main cave at the temple and spend some time when the crowds subside.
New multipurpose hall next year
Meanwhile, Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple chairman Tan Sri R. Nadarajah is hoping to have a multipurpose hall, with a capacity of at least 3,000 people, at the temple, here, by next year.
"This is our long time dream and hope the government will be able to help us to realise this and get the construction going." he said.
He pointed out that the temple has its own funds but with the help of generous donors and the government, the project would materialised at a much faster pace.
"This a cultural issue and not politically motivated. It is for a good cause and financial help from the government are very much appreciated," he said, adding that the hall was important to for events and functions.
Meanwhile, Nadarajah said the temple management was in discussion with with the Selangor state government on the need to install a special elevator for the elderly and disabled persons.
"This is another idea we are looking at because we can't expect elderly devotees to climb up 272 steps to pray." Nadarajah said.