Hindu devotees perform prayers near a river before beginning the pilgrimage to the sacred Batu Caves temple during Thaipusam festival on February 08, 2020. Thousands of Hindus, who comprise over eight percent of the 29 million Malaysian population, participate in the annual Hindu thanksgiving festival in which devotees subject themselves to painful rituals in a demonstration of faith and penance held in honour of Lord Subramaniam. The Malaysian Reserve - Arif Kartono

Malaysian Hindu devotees perform a prayer ahead of Thaipusam on February 08, 2020 in Selangor, Malaysia. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. Devotees will pray and make vows by piercing parts of their body such as their cheeks, tongues, and backs before carrying a ‘Kavadi’ or milk pots on a four kilometre journey of faith. The Malaysian Reserve - Arif Kartono

Malaysian Hindu devotees perform prayers during Thaipusam on February 08, 2020 in Selangor, Malaysia. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. Devotees will pray and make vows by piercing parts of their body such as their cheeks, tongues, and backs before carrying a ‘Kavadi’ or milk pots on a four kilometre journey of faith. The Malaysian Reserve - Arif Kartono

Malaysian Hindu devotees perform prayers during Thaipusam on February 08, 2020 in Selangor, Malaysia. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. Devotees will pray and make vows by piercing parts of their body such as their cheeks, tongues, and backs before carrying a ‘Kavadi’ or milk pots on a four kilometre journey of faith. The Malaysian Reserve - Arif Kartono

A Hindu devotee with hooks pierced into his body making his pilgrimage to the Batu Caves temple during Thaipusam on February 08, 2020 in Selangor, Malaysia. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. Devotees will pray and make vows by piercing parts of their body such as their cheeks, tongues, and backs before carrying a ‘Kavadi’ or milk pots on a four kilometre journey of faith. The Malaysian Reserve - Arif Kartono

A Hindu devotee with hooks pierced into his body making his pilgrimage to the Batu Caves temple during Thaipusam on February 08, 2020 in Selangor, Malaysia. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. Devotees will pray and make vows by piercing parts of their body such as their cheeks, tongues, and backs before carrying a ‘Kavadi’ or milk pots on a four kilometre journey of faith. The Malaysian Reserve - Arif Kartono