KUALA LUMPUR: Thaipusam holds a special place in the lives of 31-year-old devotee N. Prakash and his wife after their childless marriage was blessed with a son following prayers at Batu Caves.
After seven years of marriage and three years of trying for a child, the couple from Seremban turned to prayer during the festival.
“We hadn’t attended Thaipusam for a few years and decided to come two years ago, praying for a child.
“Within a year, we were blessed with a son,” he said when met at the festival yesterday.
Since then, Prakash, who works as a logistics executive, said that he and his wife have made a vow to make the pilgrimage to Batu Caves annually.
“No matter how busy life gets, we will make time to make the trip here and join the others in prayers.”
He described the festival as lively and colourful, especially on Thaipusam, when Batu Caves attracts thousands of devotees and tourists.
“The entire area is packed with devotees chanting and music.
“It makes our journey worthwhile and reminds us why we return annually,” he said.
Another devotee, who wished to be known as Arenth, 49, said he has been attending Thaipusam since he was seven, except during the years when the festival was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Arenth, who was accompanied by his 73-year-old aunt, Jaya, said they decided to make an overnight walk to Batu Caves this year as a form of devotion.
Arriving from Klang by car at around midnight, he said he parked at Pasar Seni and began the six-hour walk to Batu Caves with his aunt, reaching the foot of the caves just before dawn.
The pair took their time walking to Batu Caves, stopping only at rest points where volunteers offered food and drinks.
“We walk slowly because this is part of our prayer,” Arenth explained.
He said he plans to return to Batu Caves at midnight on the eve of the festival and again at around 4am, as these are considered auspicious times for prayers.
He added that this was because of the Tamil full moon and the appearance of the Pusam star.
Jaya, who was unfazed by the long walk, said more relatives would be joining them in prayers later during the festival.
She added that the family usually begins prayers a month prior to the festival.
She noted that the crowd at Batu Caves was much larger than in previous years, attributing this year’s significance to the timing of the prayers during the full moon and the special star alignment.
