Thousands celebrate Hindu festival in Malaysia

More than a million Hindus gathered in temples across Malaysia on Thursday to celebrate the annual Thaipusam festival, with many piercing their bodies with hooks and skewers to showcase devotion to the deity Lord Murugan.

Massive crowds descended on the stunning Batu Caves temple complex on the outskirts of capital Kuala Lumpur to participate in the festival, which commemorates the day when the goddess Parvathi gave her son Lord Murugan a powerful lance to fight evil demons.

Armed with gifts including milk pots and coconuts, which are eventually smashed as offerings, wor-shippers walked barefoot up 272 steps to reach the temple - an important religious site for Tamil Hindus.