Sea of colour as Malaysia's Hindus mark Thaipusam with piercings and prayer

Thaipusam is marked with particular zest in multicultural Malaysia, a Muslim-majority nation where ethnic Indians make up about seven percent of the 34 million population. Many pilgrims pierced their bodies with ornate hooks and skewers, while others presented milk offerings to commemorate the day, according to Hindu mythology, when the goddess Parvathi gave her son Lord Murugan a powerful lance to fight evil demons. The festival is also celebrated in India, Singapore and other areas with large Hindu Tamil communities.