©
alainloss: Thaipusam pilgrims walking to the temple
©
alainloss: Thaipusam festival honours Lord Murugan or Kartikeya, the son of Shiva and Parvati
©
alainloss: Most Thaipusam pilgrims go through the ritual tonsuring as an act of sacrifice humility and purification
©
alainloss: Devotee getting the sandalwood paste applied on his body and face
©
alainloss: Young devotee receiving the shaivite tilaka mark
©
alainloss: Thaipusam worshipper in the mirror
©
alainloss: Thaipusam devotee checking his ritual make-up
©
alainloss: Devotee carrying a wooden kavadi on his shoulders as a symbolic burden of gratitude
©
alainloss: Kavadis which vary greatly in size and style are portable altars intended to show devotion to Lord Murugan
©
alainloss: During Thaipusam, Kavadis are richly decorated with flowers and peacock feathers
©
alainloss: Kavadi bearer with a small skewer pierced through both cheeks
©
alainloss: Thaipusam devotees with sandalwood powder and flowers on their shaved head
©
alainloss: Shaivite worshippers on the banks of Shanmuga Nadi river
©
alainloss: The Thaipusam festival attracts tens of thousands of devout pilgrims seeking blessings and fulfilling vows
©
alainloss: Pilgrim carrying a Kavadi richly decorated with peacock feathers
©
alainloss: Thaipusam devotees carrying paal kavadis (pots filled with fresh cow's milk) to the temple
©
alainloss: Induced by chanting drumming and incense, a pilgrim is going into a spiritual and devotional trance
©
alainloss: When in a trance devotees feel they are in a state of divine communion
©
alainloss: With incessant chanting and drumming filling the air this Thaipusam devotee goes into a trance
©
alainloss: Lord Murugan worshipper entering into a spiritual and devotional trance
©
alainloss: Kavadi bearer entering into a trance induced by incessant chanting and drumming
©
alainloss: Thaipusam pilgrim at the bathing ghat on Shanmuga Nadi river
©
alainloss: Ritual dip into Shanmuga Nadi river during Thaipusam
©
alainloss: Pilgrims flock to the bathing ghats on Shanmuga Nadi to have their sins absolved in the purifying waters
©
alainloss: Ritual cleaning of the body during Thaipusam
©
alainloss: Young pilgrims frolicking in the holy Shanmuga Nadi river
©
alainloss: Young Thaipusam pilgrim shaking her long hair in the water
©
alainloss: Ritual cleaning in the Shanmuga Nadi waters
©
alainloss: Most Thaipusam pilgrims will shave their heads bald as an act of sacrifice and devotion
©
alainloss: Group of pilgrims marching to the temple