Thousands of Malaysian Indians subject themselves to painful rituals to purge sins and misdeeds during the celebration of the annual three-day Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves Temple in the outskirts of Kuala Lampur. The festival is celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on full moon in the Tamil month of Thai where devotees pierce themselves with hooks, skewers and flagellates themselves in demonstration of redeemed faith. The Hindu festival pays homage to goddess Parvarthi’s gift of a lance to her son Lord Muruga to destroy demons. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. January 30, 2010.