GEORGE TOWN: A sea of Hindu and Chinese devotees and foreign tourists thronged Jalan Kebun Bunga/Jalan Air Terjun here, the site for the annual Thaipusam celebration.
After Batu Caves, Thaipusam is celebrated with great vibrancy and grandeur here, drawing hundreds of thousands of people.
Devotees bearing colourful 'kavadis' were a sight to behold.
The crowd watched in awe at the sight of devotees who arrived with their cheeks and bodies pierced with spears and mini pots.
Many danced to religious hymns blaring in the background.
Shutterbugs had a great time clicking away on their cameras and handphones.
Friends Marie Dragset, 21, and Anna Agathe G. Kvifte, 22, both from Norway, told the New Straits Times that this was the first time they had seen such a religious celebration.
"We have never seen anything like this before, like hooks at the back (of the body of devotee) and all the rituals."So, that is very beautiful to see," Dragset said.
Sharing her sentiment was Kvifte, who said that the hooks with the cups were something interesting to see.
"It looks painful to me but the devotees had them affixed with ease and calmness," she added.
Both Dragset and Kvifte, who looked resplendent in sarees, said they came here with their teacher as part of a study tour.
"This is part of a religion study class we are taking and we are here with our teacher.
"This is a learning and experience process," Dragset said.
Earlier at Lorong Kulit here, warehouse officer K. Navasshakthi, 33, was seen helping her children to carry the kavadi and small paal kudam (milk offering).
This is the first time her daughter K. Tharanny, seven, and son K. Durrvasan, are carrying the kavadi.
According to Navasshakthi, her husband will carry the kavadi every year.
"This year, my children came up to me and say 'Amma, we also want to take the kavadi. Can we?
"So, we just allowed them to do so."They are very very happy and excited and we are awaiting how they will make the journey to fulfil their vows," she told the NST when met.
Navasshakthi said her children had been fasting for the past one week in preparation.
She said at school, where vegetarian meals are not served, her children would continue fasting by drinking only warm water.
"They are very serious in their fasting.
"For me, this Thaipusam is extra special as my kids will be taking the kavadi.
"Previously, I would be following my husband only but this time, we have our kids with us," she added.
The three-day state-level Thaipusam celebrations kicked off to a dynamic and colourful start yesterday with the dual chariot procession, a hallmark of Thaipusam in Penang.
Continuing with age-old traditions, the golden and silver chariots took to the streets here, accompanied by thousands of devotees.
This is the eighth year the dual chariot processions have taken to the streets, after making their first appearance back in 2017.
Penang is looking forward to a grand celebration this year, with more than one million visitors expected at the three-day Thaipusam celebration.
The dual chariots' return journey will be tomorrow.
