We were so lucky to have planned our trip to KL the same week as one of the biggest Hindu holidays, Thaipusam. Check it outhttp://www.fest300.com/festivals/thaipusam
Ok ok it really wasn't as painful and intense as that link makes it look. Yes, there were a few people there who had punctured their skin with hooks and needles to carry large offerings up to the caves, but they were all surrounded by priests and supporters and we could only really see a shoulder or an arm.
Otherwise, we saw tons and tons of people! It seemed like the entire population of Hindu devotees came to celebrate. All the young teen girls were dressed to the nines, mothers carrying tearful babies, young boys shaving their heads for the first time, old women setting up henna booths, food stands, blasting music- it was overwhelming at first.
We made our way to the center point of the festival, temple cave. Here was the finishing point of the process that many undertook to show respect and sacrifice for their gods. As a lovely woman on the train explained, people go to the caves to make a large wish. The more things they carry up the stairs, the bigger their wish. If they being milk, they have a pretty big wish. If they carry the large religious needle poking container throne type thing, then you had a huge wish.
After a few hours we were pretty exhausted. We poked into one of the caves, but managing the crowds got pretty tiring. We elbowed our way onto a train, and back to KL then putrajaya for our last night in luxury before the backpacker trekking begins!!
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