KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 1 -- Hundreds of kavadi-bearers unleash their spiritual fervour in the frenetic kavadi aatam during Thaipusam, one of the most recognisable Hindu festivals in the world.

Devotees fulfil their vows by piercing themselves with hooks, skewers and small spears (vel) as they walk barefoot, carrying the idol of Lord Murugan on kavadis adorned with peacock feathers and lights.

Many place their trust in traditional body-piercers, who insert the metal hooks and skewers through their skin as painlessly as possible.

The piercers behind the kavadi vows

Shankar Ramalingam, 42, first learned the craft in 2008 when his brother carried a kavadi that year.

"I pierced the hooks and skewers on my brother just by observing how the oth...