Kuala Lumpur, Jan 30 (DPA) Hundreds of thousands of devotees celebrated the Hindu festival of Thaipusam Saturday, climbing steep steps to seek divine blessings at a cave temple near Kuala Lumpur.

Worshippers and tourists gathered at Batu Caves in the early morning to celebrate the colourful festival, which marks the birth of Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war and son of the goddess Parvati.

Some 10,000 devotees demonstrated their vows to Lord Murugan by piercing skewers and hooks through their cheeks, tongues and brows, while chanting and dancing.

Many also carried pots of milk up nearly 300 steps to get to the cave temple, as offerings to the gods.

Thaipusam is held in the tenth month of the Hindu calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, it corresponds to late January or early February.

People in Singapore, India and the Mauritius Islands all observe the festival, while in Malaysia, the festival is also celebrated on a large scale in the northern state of Penang.