Kavadi through the ages: an artistic devotion to Lord Murugan

Free Malaysia Today

The Thaipusam celebration in Ipoh is a spectacle, with the light polystyrene kavadis by Sivabalan Doraisamy taking centre stage at Kallumalai Subramaniyar Temple.   Written & presented by: Theevya Ragu  Shot by: Fauzi Yunus, Afizi Ismail & Andrea Edmonds  Edited by: Hemaviknesh Supramaniam   Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2025/02/11/ipohs-artistic-polystyrene-kavadis-in-devotion-to-lord-murugan/   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTLifestyle #Thaipusam #Kavadi #Ipoh #VisualArts

Transcript

00:00Pierced skin, weary shoulders, aching feet, all in the name of devotion to Lord Murugan.

00:15We stand in awe of these towering structures rising above the crowds during Taipusam.

00:22But their story stretches far beyond the colourful steps of Batu Caves.

00:40Ipoh's Kallumalai Sri Subramaniam Temple is one of Malaysia's key Taipusam sites outside Batu Caves.

00:46Here, the grand cavities are the festival's main spectacle.

00:52Ipoh's Kallumalai Sri Subramaniam Temple is one of Malaysia's key Taipusam sites outside Batu Caves.

01:22So that is the unique part of Ipoh Taipusam.

01:26FMT Lifestyle was in Buntung, Ipoh to meet renowned cavity maker Sivabalan Duresami,

01:32nephew of the man who invented the polystyrene cavity in Malaysia.

01:40The late Radhakrishnan Muniappan carried his first cavity for Taipusam in 1966,

01:46but it wasn't until a few years later that the idea struck to create cavities himself

01:51using waste materials.

02:22Sivabalan, who had been watching his uncle craft cavities since he was seven years old,

02:27took up the mantle after his uncle's passing in 2019.

02:51The process of creating these gigantic structures takes almost one month.

02:56It starts with designing unique patterns,

02:59then carving,

03:02painting,

03:04embellishing,

03:06wiring,

03:09and bringing the cavity to life with LED lighting.

03:12The team of around 10 all-former cavity carriers who are passionate about this art form

03:17includes Moses Gregory, a Christian who crafted his first cavity at age 17.

03:42When I was a kid, I used to go to the temple every Friday to learn how to make cavities.

03:52Cavities are an art form.

03:56Taipusam is an art form.

03:58We make cavities for Murugan.

04:01Murugan is the statue of Murugan.

04:04We have to make Murugan look like Murugan.

04:08We have to show the creativity.

04:10We have to show the beauty of the light.

04:12Lighting is the best now.

04:14People say that they don't use light anymore.

04:18We make Murugan look like Murugan.

04:27Sivabalan explained that despite the physical pain,

04:30devotees don't only carry the cavity,

04:33they dance along the way in celebration of Lord Murugan.

04:37We dance along the steps of the cavities.

04:40We don't dance along the steps anymore.

04:43We don't dance along the steps anymore.

04:45Why do people dance along the steps?

04:47Why do people dance along the steps?

04:49We dance to show the beauty of the cavities.

04:52We dance to show the beauty of the cavities.

04:57The tradition of cavities is said to have begun with a Hindu legend.

05:01Now, it remains a sacred ritual for those seeking Lord Murugan's blessings.

05:07Days before Thaipusam, prayers are held for the statues placed inside each cavity,

05:12seeking blessings for a safe and successful procession.

05:22Before we start the first day of Thaipusam,

05:24we put our tools in the temple and perform the ritual.

05:27After that, we perform the Thaipusam.

05:31Sivabalan's creations are sought after nationwide,

05:35including this one, which arrived at Batu Caves.

05:44There are various types of cavities, each with a different purpose.

05:48The Vittimullu involves piercing the devotee's body with hooks tied to ropes,

05:54which are then dragged by the devotee, who himself is attached to a chariot.

06:00Sivabalan's majestic cavity lights up the streets and uplifts the spirit of the devotee

06:06as he ascends the stairs to seek Lord Murugan's blessings.

06:12Let the cavities be a reminder of the true spirit of Thaipusam,

06:16a festival where devotion, community, and tradition come together in a sacred celebration.

06:21Liveragu FFT Lifestyle!

06:29www.thaipusam.com

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