Every step counts! For V. Jevanan, climbing the Batu Caves with a kavadi is more than just a physical challenge, it's a spiritual pilgrimage. Climbing the 272 steps of Batu Caves is no easy feat, especially this young man who does it with a hydraulic prosthetic limb. 

After losing his leg in an accident, he found purpose in devotion to Lord Murugan. Each step is a prayer, and every moment of pain is a thank you for a second chance at life. Four years ago, he began carrying the kavadi as an act of devotion to Lord Murugan, transforming physical hardship into a deeply personal spiritual offering.

“I consider the physical pain my way of thanking Lord Murugan for fulfilling my vows,” he said when met at his home in Taman Iringan Bayu. “I was not spiritually inclined before my accident, but surviving it made me realise that I was given a second chance at life.”

Now working as a supervisor at an international convenience store chain in Singapore, Jevanan said his spiritual journey began modestly with the milk kavadi after his recovery. In 2022, he felt a stronger calling and attempted to carry a rented kavadi weighing about 60kg.

However, the sheer weight and dense crowd made it impossible for him to complete the climb.

“That experience only strengthened my resolve,” he said.

With the support of close friends, Jevanan succeeded the following year. In 2025, he went a step further by commissioning his own alagu or slavu kavadi, custom-built to suit his physical needs. Crafted from aluminium and stainless steel, and adorned with rods, spikes and intricate decorations imported from India, the kavadi is lighter and better balanced for him.

Some of the embellishments are gold-plated or made of silver, and the entire piece cost nearly RM20,000.

For this year’s Thaipusam, Jevanan observed a strict spiritual discipline, remaining vegetarian for seven days and dedicating himself to intense prayer and purification.

“One must prepare both the body and the mind for this journey,” he said. “When your tongue, cheeks and body are pierced, even breathing becomes difficult. Drinking water can feel impossible.”

Despite the physical demands, Jevanan has never viewed his disability as a limitation. He regularly rides his motorcycle from Johor Baru to Singapore for work and remains determined to live independently.

The younger of two brothers, Jevanan said he does not enter a trance during the piercing ritual.

“I experience spiritual calm and surrender myself fully to Lord Murugan,” he said.

His kavadi journey begins at the Hanuman Temple, about 500 metres from Batu Caves. To avoid the overwhelming crowds, he once again chose to perform the ritual a week before Thaipusam.

“Doing it earlier allows me to complete the climb in under two hours,” he said. “On Thaipusam day itself, it could take up to five hours, and every step would require extreme caution, especially with the wind and the steep stairs.”

Friends accompany him throughout the journey, but Jevanan remains focused on maintaining balance and safety at every step.

“There is no greater joy than entering the temple after completing the climb,” he said. “Every step feels like a miracle. It is not to impress anyone. It is something I do purely for Lord Murugan’s blessings, he said.”

Though he lost a leg, Jevanan said he never lost hope, faith, or the belief that devotion has the power to rise above all obstacles. 

“Disability has never been an obstacle. Faith gives me the strength to move forward.”

Source / Image Credit : The Star