I went photo shooting in one of Malaysia’s most colorful event – Thaipusam. While I am not going to ‘talk’ much about Thaipusam it self, as you can pretty much google or wikipedia it, but I do like to comment that it is not just a celebration for our Indian friends. It is also a celebration of a massive gathering of all races even foreigners; some non Indians even carried the kavady too. Most importantly it is a really good tourism event!
Lots of photographer flooded the event too, making full use of the colorful decorations, street display and altars. Most of the time the devotees (carrying the kavady) seems to be aware of us (the photographers), they would often stop and pose for their pictures to be taken (very similar to the paparazzi). They seem to be aware of their surrounding but I always thought that, they are in trance mode when carrying the body piercing kavady, if not … how could anyone endure the pain?
I feared even piercing my ear, I had to request for multiple ‘sprays’ of anesthesia to numb the area for as long as possible. Can you imagine, piercing through the tongue, the cheeks and every where else? … and those things that goes thru are really HUGE! I was wondering did they have enormous shots of local anesthesia on all of their piercing? Or did the God bless them?
7 responses so far ↓
1 bs // Feb 2, 2008 at 5:29 am
I was there from 10:30am and there was quite a number of photographers. Good shots you have there.
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2 MicheGinny // Feb 2, 2008 at 5:34 am
Ahhh almost the same time as i was there … yes indeed there was quite a few photographers (i dont consider my self a photographer but only a person that takes pictures ~ if that makes any difference hahaha) … some are really pro, came with assistant and huge gadgets!
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3 seraphangel // Feb 3, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I think you qualify as a photographer
nice shots there, never ask me go 
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4 MicheGinny // Feb 4, 2008 at 1:04 am
I went with my sifu and a few friends ma. Should get your ‘kaki-kalian’ to go with ya… its quite a nice colorful event!
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5 Malaysia » Blog Archive » I am Finally Here - Koko Kaina // Feb 5, 2008 at 10:44 am
[...] Thaipusam - the painfully colorful event! I went photo shooting in one of Malaysia’s most colorful event – Thaipusam. While I am not going to ‘talk’ much about Thaipusam it self, as you can pretty much google or wikipedia it, but I do like to comment that it is not just a celebration for our Indian friends. It is also a celebration of a massive gathering of all races even foreigners; some non Indians even carried the kavady too. Most importantly it is a really good tourism event! Lots of photographer flooded the event [...]
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6 Kai // Feb 6, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I like the last picture, the colour really matches!
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7 satkuru // Feb 14, 2008 at 1:10 am
wow, great shots
some even posed for you, lol 
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