Journey of a thousand steps: Jevanan carrying his kavadi with supporters in tow at Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
SEREMBAN: Most able-bodied men may cringe at the thought of having to carry a 40kg kavadi with spikes and skewers piercing their bodies up the 272 steps of Batu Caves during Thaipusam, but a 29-year-old man who relies on a hydraulic prosthetic limb to walk has made it his life’s mission to do it every year.
V. Jevanan lost his leg in a road accident 12 years ago and began carrying the kavadi to pay homage to Lord Murugan four years ago.
He said the spiritual journey serves as a living prayer, where every painful step is an act of devotion.
For a man with one leg embarking on the journey up a site Hindus consider sacred, the act is a gruelling testament to the triumph of the spirit over the flesh.
“I consider the physical pain to be my expression of gratitude to Lord Murugan for fulfilling my vows.
“I was never spiritual before, but after a very bad accident when I was in Form 5, I believed God had given me a second chance at life; this is my way of expressing my gratitude,” he said when met at his house in Taman Iringan Bayu near here.
Jevanan, who has been working as a supervisor at an international convenience store chain in Singapore for the past four years, said upon his recovery from the accident, he initially started carrying the milk kavadi at Batu Caves.
“But when the calling came in 2022, I started carrying a kavadi which I had rented for RM800.
“However, since the kavadi was about 60kg and the crowd was massive, I could not make it up the hill,” he said.
The unfortunate episode only gave him the strength to try again, and Jevanan, helped by a group of friends, finally succeeded the following year.
“In 2025, I built my own alagu or slavu kavadi, which is made of aluminium and stainless steel and uses rods, spikes and other ornate decorations imported from India.
“It was also easier to carry, as it is lighter and designed for me,” he said, adding that some of the decorations were either gold-plated or made of silver, and it cost him almost RM20,000.
Jevanan said that for this year’s Thaipusam, he followed a rigorous regimen of purification and engaged in intense prayer, remaining a vegetarian for a full seven days.
“One has to prepare his body and mind for the spiritual journey, which will include piercing the body with hooks, skewers and rods.
“Imagine how difficult it is to even breathe when your tongue, mouth, cheeks and other body parts are all pierced.
“It is a daunting task to even sip water,” he said, adding that he never saw his disability as an obstacle to performing the religious ritual, as he also rides his motorcycle to work from Johor Baru, where he lives, to Singapore on working days.
The younger of two brothers said he never goes into a trance when his body is pierced.
“For me, I simply experience spiritual bliss when I am being pierced and surrender to Lord Murugan,” he said.
Jevanan said his journey up Batu Caves will start from the Hanuman Temple located some 500m away.
He also decided to carry the kavadi a week before Thaipusam again this year to escape the massive crowds on the actual day.
“If I do it a few days earlier, it will take me less than two hours to complete the journey up and down the hill compared to probably five hours on Thaipusam day, where every step up can be extremely challenging for a person like me.
“Although my friends will be by my side, I will constantly need to stabilise myself at every step to prevent any untoward incidents, as it can also get windy up there,” he said.
Jevanan said there is no greater joy than entering the temple after making it up the hill, as each step is a miracle.
“Carrying the kavadi is not to show off or impress anyone.
“It is something I want to do for Lord Murugan’s blessings,” he said, adding that he may have lost a leg but never lost hope or his belief.
