Top of the Stairs
Here, the devotees’ kavadi long journey ends. Milk will be poured over the golden spear and the kavadi will finally be lifted off the bearer, signifying the ultimate end of his ‘burden’ or journey. The Swami will then remove the spears, the hooks and everything that was sunk into the flesh of the devotee while sprinkling holy ash on the wounds of the devotee. Immediately the crowd is elated. After a long, and definitely arduous journey, everyone is happy the vows of the devotees have been fulfilled. Family and friends embrace the kavadi bearers and there is a sense of love and solidarity among them, while the songs and dancing continue well into the night.

Thaipusam is celebrated mostly by the Tamil community in January or February of each year on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai. The word itself is derived from the month named Thai, and Pusam refers to a star that is at its highest point during the time of the festival. Thaipusam marks the birthday of Lord Murugan. The festival also commemorates the occasion when Lord Murugan received a vel or spear from his mother Parvati so he could defeat the evil demon Soorapadman.

Once a year, Batu Caves becomes the centre of a great religious procession stretching out through the city. Now declared a public holiday and with much better traffic control, the festival would see entire roads closed for the procession and for the chariot to pass through the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Main Cave

The American naturalist who ‘discovered’ Batu Caves, Hornaday was awestruck by the size of the cavern and the creatures living within. It is the same cave you are in now. For the next few days, the group spent much time exploring other caves. There they found Gua Lambong or Lambong Cave. He described his find this way- “We found ourselves in a grand cathedral. We walked along a grand gallery with clean and level floor, perpendicular walls and gothic roof, like the nave of a cathedral, 50 feet wide and 60 feet high. At the far end, the roof rose in a great round dome 90 or 100 feet high perfectly resembling St. Peter’s in Rome.”

Hornaday and his crew returned to town with intriguing stories about the location of the caves. Soon picnic parties in the caves were the all the rage for many of the colonial socialites. Guests were brought to the caves on the backs of elephants! Certainly a wonderfully royal way to travel, but it didn’t stop there. Servants would lay out entire meals and drinks while the socialites and who’s who of colonial Malaya would lie in the shade and praise the limestone hills that served as their grand scenery for the afternoon. What a wonderful time that must have been!

Lord Murugan
Many, many moons ago, the world was torn apart by a dangerous war between the Devas or celestial beings, and the Asuras the evil forces. Tired of constant, fiery attacks from the Asuras, the Devas paid homage to Lord Shiva and asked for his protection. Moved by their prayers, Lord Shiva agreed to help the unfortunate Devas.

Lord Shiva then opened the central eye on his forehead and radiated six sparks of fire, and through a series of celestial transformations, Lord Murugan was the end result. He was powerful and strong enough to defeat the evil Soorapadme- the most cruel and most powerful of the Asuras. Armed with a Nyanya Vel or golden spear, Lord Murugan went into battle with Soorapadme. A fierce battle ensued, and finally with one final and fatal stroke, Lord Murugan slayed Soorapadme. He then converted one portion of the slain enemy into a peacock as to be his celestial vehicle, while the other portion was turned into a cock adorning his banner.

Lord Murugan is considered the very manifestation of all that is good and beautiful in the world. Think valour, beauty, youthfulness, vitality, masculinity, and happiness. Thaipusam celebrates the essence of Lord Murugan and the triumph of good over evil.

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