KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 24 -- Devotional fervour has filled the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple at Batu Caves, as thousands of devotees begin thronging the complex to fulfil their religious vows ahead of Thaipusam.

This year, Batu Caves is gearing up to welcome more than 3.5 million visitors for Thaipusam - with a "mini-Thaipusam" slated for this weekend.

Thaipusam is celebrated on the first full moon in the Tamil month of Thai, when the Pusam star - the eighth of the 27 stars in Hindu astrology - reaches its highest point.

According to Hindu belief, Goddess Parvati bestowed the divine spear called the "vel" on her son Lord Murugan, who used it to defeat the demon Surapadman on this day.

Sri Maha Mariamman DevasthanamTempletrustee Datuk N. Si...