Thaipusam at Batu Caves

More than a million devotees process to the Batu Caves, a spectacular holy temple outside Kuala Lumpur, to celebrate the annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam. The event marks Lord Murugan's birthday and his victory over evil with a golden spear.

Lord Murugan, the son of the Hindu god Shiva and goddess Parvati, is the Tamil god of war and the spear he used to overcome evil was presented to him by his mother. The festival begins with a late-night procession in Kuala Lumpur, in the streets near Sri Mahamariamman Temple.

A silver, jewel-encrusted chariot carries the image of Lord Murugan, preceded by incense and followed by an entourage of priests, devotees, musicians and dancers. The devotees process through the night to the Batu Caves, 15km (9 miles) away, where they carry the deity up the 272 steps.

A Hindu pilgrimage site and one of Malaysia's great natural wonders, the Batu caves consist of three main caves and hundreds of smaller ones. The Temple Cave, which contains shrines to the Hindu gods, has a vaulted ceiling 100 metres high.

Penitents atone for their sins by dragging kavadi altars or "burdens". Encouraged by the beat of drums, they pray and enter a trance-like state before attaching the kavadis with steel hooks to the skin of their chest, back and face. For them, it is the ultimate sign of penance, preparing a month in advance with fasting and celibacy.

All around the caves there's a festival atmosphere, with crowds of onlookers, constant drumming and food stalls. The festival continues into a third day, and only once its over can you visit the caves yourself.