During Thaipusam, over a million Hindu devotees throng Batu Caves, climbing a 272-step stairs up to the mouth of the caves to visit the shrine of Lord Muruga within. Many of these devotees will carry a physical burden – called a kavadi – as an act of penance.

The kavadi porters are the ones tacitly tailing their employers, making sure the kavadi is well balanced and the pilgrim bearing it comfortable. And at the end of the journey, kavadi porters mount the kavadi on their own shoulders and take the pilgrimage in reverse – they need to carry the kavadi back down on behalf of their employers. They repeat this pilgrimage up to 10 times over Thaipusam season.

Ahead of Thaipusam, these porters often undertake similar spiritual preparations as the pilgrims themselves – including fasting 48 days in advance, and meditating regularly. It’s as much an act of devotion as it is employment.