Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil calendar. However, Thaipusam is also increasingly being celebrated by the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia. It is a celebration for the son of Shiva (Subramaniam) and becoming "one" of Pusan and the Brihaspati stars. Lord Subramaniam is the universal granter of wishes.  All those who wish to ask for a future favour, fulfill a vow in return for a granted favour, or to repent for past sins will participate in this festival. Therefore, Thaipusam is a celebration of the victory of good over evil.

In this celebration, there will be a number of devotees who have large metal frames which is also called as "kavadis" attached or pierced to their bodies with an array of hooks, pins and chains. Many of these devotees even pull chariots and heavy objects with hooks attached to their bodies. Many others pierce their tongue and cheek to impede speech and thereby attain full concentration on the Lord. It is believed that devotees that have undergone the correct purification and meditation processes can free their minds from the material world and hence, they enter a trance-like state so that they feel no pain. This body piercing art is the major attraction for hundred to thousand of devotees and tourists to this event. Besides that, there will be some hook limes, oranges or coconuts onto their bodies carried to the celebration. Friends and relatives will gather to offer their blessing and support. Usually, they will accompany the kavadis bearers on the journey chanting “Vel” “Vel” and lots of whistling and beating of drums can be heard.