Thaipusam: Transcendence and Mystical Piercing

Country: Malaysia
Runtime: 52 Mins
Language: English
Year of Production: 2007

Thaipusam is a stunning Hindu festival that transcends the physical and the spiritual, one of the largest celebrations takes place at the temple at Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, attracting over one million devotees who spear their bare flesh with iron rods and pierce their naked backs with sharp hooks.

This documentary tells the story of Thaipusam through the eyes of two devotees from different worlds on their pilgrimage to Batu Caves. We meet Dr. Carl Vadivella Belle, a Caucasian Australian who lives in Adelaide and converted to Hinduism, and Guna, an Indian Hindu resident of Kuala Lumpur.

Witness their holy passage in the month leading up to Thaipusam as Carl and Guna immerse themselves in meditation and prayers and abstain from earthly pleasures. It’s an event that will challenge our understanding of the real and the unreal, and captivate viewers with mesmerizing visuals and sounds.

Available Territories: Australia, New Zealand and Latin America only.