Date:

From Friday, 29 January 2010 - 6:00am

To Saturday, 30 January 2010 - 11:00pm

Venue: Murugan Temple, Waterfall

Thaipusam Festival is one of major Hindu festivals in Penang. It is a fascinating Hindu festival that includes a parade of purification and cleansing rituals.

Devotees carry Kavadi or a colourfully decorated frame to Waterfall Gardens temple, near Penang Botanic Gardens. Some devotees pierce cheeks or tongues with spikes and skewers in show of penance.

It is a spiritual parade of holy rituals for purification from atonement wrongs among the Hindu devotees.

As the chariot passes the streets, devotees smash coconuts as offerings and to give thanks to the deity.

Chariot procession will start on the 29th January from Penang Street and ends at Waterfall Road at the Nattukkottai Chettiar Temple, where the centre of the celebration takes place.

Extra Buses: 10 extra buses bearing "Thaipusam Festive Shuttle" sign will leave Weld Quay (Ferry) from 3pm to midnight and 6.30am to midnight and 6.30am to noon during the three days.

The final stop will be in front of the Tanjung Hospital in Jalan Burma, about 500m from the Thaipusam celebration site in Jalan Kebun Bunga.