Foreigners love the rituals, colours and music of Thaipusam

Tourists comment on how they have thoroughly enjoyed their first experience of Thaipusam in Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign tourists have expressed how awesome it was to experience Thaipusam’s 125th celebration with Hindu devotees at the Sri Subramaniyar Swamy temple in Batu Caves here today.

Hundreds of them flocked there, with some having travelled thousands of kilometres, just to witness one of the most prestigious celebrations in the Hindu calendar in Southeast Asia.

An Italian tourist, Mattia Malavenda, 34, said he appreciated the beauty of the culture in Malaysia and considered Thaipusam one of his ‘must see’ events as this was his first time witnessing such a mesmerising celebration in his life.

“I have never seen such a huge crowd here. It is very nice, traditional and fantastic. It was something different for me as this celebration does not exist in my country,” he told Bernama here today adding that he had been in the country for ten days touring the peninsula.

In his excitement, he climbed the 272 steps leading to the temple inside the cave together with 1.6 million Hindu devotees and tourists who also swarmed the area to join in the festivities.

Seen among the sea of Hindus were kavadi carriers and bare-footed devotees who thronged the temple to fulfill their vows and to seek penance for their sins in conjunction with the festival.

An American, Kevin Mcnulty, 41, said it was his first time experiencing the celebration despite having stayed in Malaysia for about three years when he followed his wife, who worked here.

Mcnulty, who lives in Ampang, said he was fortunate to have the opportunity to come to Batu Caves as he loved the music featured in the festivities too.

“I just love the music. It makes me alive and make others happy,” he observed, adding only that the local authority and the temple’s management should provide more public dustbins in the area.

Another American, David Anderson, 25, said it was his first visit and that he was mesmerised by the Hindu devotees’ religious ritual.

“I love the music and most of all I like that there are lots of kiosks for me to buy souvenirs,” he said.

- BERNAMA