But standing at the top of steps leading to the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple, ready to fulfil her vow to Lord Murugan, the 57-year-old mother of two was overwhelmed with gratitude.

“As soon as I received the news, my world turned dark. I immediately prayed to Lord Murugan to help my recovery,” she told FMT.

Her prayers, she believes, were answered, as she was declared cancer-free within five months.

“I remember saying that if I got better, I would bring him a pot of milk as an offering,” she said.

For 45-year-old R Selvandran, a sense of fulfilment washed over him after carrying his 30kg kavadi to the temple having climbed up the 272 steps packed with pilgrims.

His six-hour spiritual journey, which began in nearby Sungai Batu at dawn, was gruelling, but he embraced every moment of it.

“I couldn’t rush to the top but when I finally made it to the temple and saw the face of Lord Murugan, I felt relieved to have again fulfilled my vow this year,” he said.

Selvandran, who has been carrying a kavadi for over 12 years, vowed to continue the tradition for as long as his body allows.

The vibrant celebration of Thaipusam also left a lasting impression on international visitors, including Zoey Carter, 53, from the UK, who was captivated by the devotees today.

“I was curious to explore the temple at the top of the limestone hill, but I couldn’t due to the congestion on the steps,” she said.

“It was packed, but I’m coming back to climb the colourful stairs once the crowd eases.”

Lochlan Monroe, 25, from Canada, said witnessing the celebration in person was far more impressive than what he had read online.

“My friend from Egypt told me about Thaipusam, so I read up on it before coming here. But experiencing it firsthand is incredible.

“You can feel the energy, there’s a lot of passion here,” he said.