Thaipusam – Trance

The Batu Caves are the epicenter of the Hindu Thaipusam festival, and the series Trance follows some of the most involved devotees as they reach the end of their pilgrimage – from their entry into trance by the banks of the Batu River, up the 272 steps cut into the hill, and into the famous temple housing Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war. 

Here, they end their month-long observance of fasting, celibacy, and meditation. Through piercing rituals, they seek to purge themselves of negative emotions such as lust, greed, ego, anger, and hate and seek penance before Lord Murugan to fulfill their wishes.

Kuala Lumpur, home to not only Hindus but also Buddhists, Christians, and a majority of Muslims, makes one ponder on the feasibility of international religious freedom.