Thousands of Indians in Singapore celebrate Thaipusam

Thousands of Indians in Singapore got together on Saturday to celebrate the Hindu festival of Thaipusam.

Thaipusam is celebrated by Hindus worldwide during the month of "Thai" in the Hindu calendar.

It is a day of worship and atonement, and a day where wishes are believed to be granted.

In Singapore, the religious event has a carnival-like atmosphere and it's most well-known for its worshippers who carry metal frames called Kavadis.

The frames are attached to the devotees' bodies using spikes and skewers driven into their tongues and cheeks.

This probably looks painful to most of us, but the devotees say they don't feel the pain.

Many have prepared for months for the occasion, including abstaining from meat and going on a vegetarian diet.

Carrying the Kavadis, the devotees will walk four kilometres to fulfil their vows and ask for blessings.

The annual procession begins at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road and ends at Sri Thandayathapani temple at Tank Road.

Mr Lim Boon Heng, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, attended Saturday's function with other religious leaders.

Mr Lim noted the mutual acceptance of each other's religious faith.

"We live side by side with one another in peace and harmony. So it's good for the leaders of religions to signify that. I think this reaffirmation is very useful in today's context."

There were more than 10,000 participants at this year's event.