Thaipusam

At the moment I am staying in Penang in Malaysia. Like Australia, Malaysia is a country with people from many other countries. There are many Indian people who live here. Indians have many different gods. One of those gods is called Murugan.

Each year in Penang, and in other places, a festival is held so that people can ask for help from the god Murugan. To get Murugan's help people carry a burden. The more difficult the burden, the more help they hope to get.

Some people carry a kavadi on their shoulders for a long walk to the temple.



Some put little hooks in their backs.



Some put big hooks in their backs. Remember, the more pain the more help you want.



Some pierce their mouths and their tongues.



I even saw one who put hooks in his face with coconuts hanging off them.



All this happens at a festival called Thaipusam. You can see more photos I took at the Thaipusam festival here.

love from Grandpa