Thaipusam 2007, Indian festival in Pulau Penang

One of the most important festivals for the Hindus in Malaysia is Thaipusam. Here's an explanation what Thaipusam means

This page therefore contains with a set of photos I made during the 2007 Thaipusam in Pulau Penang. It was an amazing experience for me. Not only Indians performed a Thaipusam with sticks in their mouth and bells or fruits hanging on their bodies. A number of Chinese believers and two foreigners were there. Though many men had enormous weights hanging on their body I have not see a single drop of blood or any damage on the skin. It was truly amazing that the skin of a human being can be that strong.

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The first temple at the start of the Thaipusam			Happy parents bring their child to the temple and thank the Gods
Women carry offerings on their heads			Chinese perform Thaipusam too
Heavy bells hanging on the body of a Chinese believer	Long metal sticks put through the cheek				A Chinese believer with rows of hooks in the backbone
A Woman carries offerings to the temple on the mountain		Ready to walk the Thaipusam Penang		One of the two foreigner believers
Preparing for the Thaipusam			Getting high
Many iron pins stick in the body		Just before the Thaipusam walk		Walking the Thaipusam
High in the Thaipusam walk		A man with many coconuts hanging		Pulling back from the back