THAIPUSAM, devoted to Lord Murugan, is the biggest festival for Hindus after Deepavali. Millions of Hindus gather for the annual celebration at various temples across Malaysia, the most famous of which is Batu Caves.

The date of the festival is determined by the full moon in the month of Thai in the Hindu calendar, which is typically in January or February.

This year, Thaipusam falls on January 31. The celebrations will be cut short as the date coincides with a lunar eclipse which Hindus believe will bring bad luck.

During Thaipusam, devotees often bear kavadis or offerings for Lord Murugan. Kavadi, which means ‘burden’, is carried across the shoulders.

The simplest form of kavadi may consist of a pot of milk and pictures or statues of deities. The more elaborate versions consist of large semicircular pieces of wood or steel adorned with peacock feathers.

Balasubramaniam Batumalai, 38, from Seremban, has been making kavadis for more than 20 years, driven by his passion to create artistic pieces.

He had been taking custom kavadi orders as early as last September. His custom-made kavadis cost between RM150 and RM7,000 depending on the size. – January 26, 2018.