Thaipusam in Malaysia
A Hindu festival of devotion honouring Lord Murugan.
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Murugan, celebrated with extraordinary acts of devotion. In Malaysia the largest gathering takes place at the Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur, where devotees carry ornate kavadi and milk pots up the 272 steps to the temple.
It is observed as a public holiday in several states with significant Hindu communities, including Selangor, Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Published dates
| Year | Date | Observed in | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sun, 1 February 2026 | Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya & Selangor | |
| 2027 | Fri, 22 January 2027 | Johor, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya & Selangor | |
| 2028 | Sun, 13 February 2028 | Johor, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya & Selangor |
What to notice in the calendar
The table records the coverage for Thaipusam as “Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya & Selangor”. Dates for several years are kept together so changes in weekday and state coverage are easy to compare.
At least one listed date falls on or next to a weekend. The long-weekend calendar shows the actual sequence of workdays, weekends and holidays for each year.