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Kota Kinabalu: Hindus in Sabah will join those elsewhere in the country in observing Thaipusam this year on Feb 7, with the festival of thanksgiving and paying penance held mainly in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau.Sabah Hindu Sangam spokesman, Mohan Raju, said the main venue for the festival is the Sri Subramaniam Temple at Km 22 of Penampang-Papar Road in Lok Kawi.

"Devotees and their family members and friends will converge at the seafront at Meruntum Bay opposite the Lok Kawi camp as early as 5am to prepare themselves for the elaborate feat of paying homage to Lord Murugan.

"In a state of trance, the 'kavadi' bearers will march from the seafront to the temple barefoot, accompanied by their family members and friends," he said, Thursday.

Mohan said most for the kavadi bearers will be fulfilling vows they have made to Lord Murugan for having blessed them with good health and fortune.

"Most of them fast for 30 days before carrying the kavadi," he said.

Mohan said Thaipusam is celebrated by Hindus around the world on the full moon day in the month of "Thai" in the Tamil calendar, which usually falls in January or February.