A SILVER CHARIOT CARRYING HINDU LORD MURUGAN ICON MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH KUALA LUMPUR, 2002-01-27 (photo)

Against the backdrop of the world's tallest building, the Petronas Twin Towers, a silver chariot carrying the icon of Lord Murugan makes its way along a 11-km (7-mile) procession from downtown Kuala Lumpur to the Batu Caves temple, marking the beginning of the ancient Hindu festival of Thaipusam on January 27, 2002. The capital of Malaysia - where about seven percent of the country's 22 million people are ethnic Indians, mostly Hindus - was filled with prayers and mantra chants during the procession. Devotees subject themselves to painful rituals in a demonstration of faith and self-punishment during Thaipusam. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad BM/JD