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
Comments