Thousands of devotees and visitors converged onto the Batu Caves temple complex for the annual Thaipusam festival.

Not to be left behind were the politicians, including the prime minister and his wife with other cabinet ministers.

The festival commemorates both the birthday of Lord Murugan, the youngest son of god Shiva and his wife Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a spear (vel) for him to vanquish the demon Soorapadman.