CONTENT] Indian pilgrim hooked to his back Thaipusam is a hindu festival celebrated mainly by the Tamil community Outside of India it is celebrated...
{"Image ImageDescription": "[UNVERIFIED CONTENT] Indian pilgrim hooked to his back.\n\nThaipusam is a hindu festival celebrated mainly by the Tamil community. Outside of India, it is celebrated mainly by the Tamil speaking community settled in Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and elsewhere around the world.   Thaipusam celebrations in Malaysia and Singapore are known for their festive fervor. The most famous Kavadi pilgrimage on the Thaipusam day takes place at the Batu Caves in Malaysia, where a large number of devotees head towards the Murugan temple in procession carrying the 'Kavadi'. This festival attracts over a million people each year at the Batu Caves, near Kuala Lampur, which houses several Hindu shrines.\nThe procession to the caves starts at the city center hindu temple and then the pilgrims walk 15km to Batu Caves. It was a 5 hour walk and it started at midnight. Pilgrims then need to climb 272 steps to access the temple on the hilltop, in the caves. \n Many fanatical devotees go to such extent as to torture their bodies to appease the Lord. So, a major feature of Thaipusam celebrations is body piercing with hooks, skewers and small lances called 'vel'. Many of these devotees even pull chariots and heavy objects with hooks attached to their bodies. Many others pierce their tongue and cheek to impede speech and thereby attain full concentration on the Lord.", "Image Copyright": "? 2013 Igor Bilic"}