Thousands of devotees and visitors converged onto the Batu Caves temple complex for the annual Thaipusam festival. <br /> <br />Not to be left behind were the politicians, including the prime minister and his wife with other cabinet ministers. <br /> <br />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.
