Balasubramaniam’s 30-year journey crafting kavadis blends engineering skill and devotion, supporting devotees at Thaipusam in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: What began as a teenager’s curiosity has grown into one of the most recognised kavadi-making and support services associated with Thaipusam in Malaysia.
For nearly three decades, Balasubramaniam Batumalai, 47, founder of Bala Kavadi Services, has dedicated his life to crafting kavadis and guiding devotees through one of the most demanding acts of devotion on the Hindu calendar.
His journey began at just 17, sparked by fascination rather than faith.
“I didn’t even know what kavadi really was back then, and I had never carried one myself. I just saw devotees carrying it during Thaipusam and felt drawn to it,” he told theSun.
In 1996, while in the final semester of his vocational college studies in mechanical engineering, Balasubramaniam decided to try building a kavadi on his own.
At the time, kavadis were traditionally made from bamboo and rattan, a painstaking process that required skill and long hours of manual labour.
“People didn’t trust me,” he recounted.
“Nobody wanted to rent from me. Nobody believed I could do it properly.”
Determined to prove himself, he did what few were willing to do – he carried his own kavadi up the steep steps of Batu Caves.
“That was when I truly understood the weight, the pressure and the pain,” he said.
“Only then did I know what needed to be improved to make it safer and more balanced.”
Drawing on his engineering background, Balasubramaniam began experimenting with aluminium, redesigning kavadis to be lighter, sturdier and more customisable while remaining faithful to religious tradition.
Today, each kavadi takes weeks to complete, with raw materials sourced locally and from overseas.
Peacock feathers, a key decorative element, are imported from India.
What started as a small workshop has since evolved into a full-service operation.
Balasubramaniam now serves devotees from across Malaysia, travelling north to south to deliver and assemble kavadis.
He has also shipped them overseas, complete with instructional videos for assembly.
“We don’t just make kavadi. We provide services. I guide devotees all the way up. I believe when they climb with their burdens, they shouldn’t come back down carrying them.”
At the height of Thaipusam, he may climb Batu Caves up to 20 times a day, escorting each devotee before carrying the kavadi back down himself.
Demand continues to grow, with returning devotees from Sri Lanka, Canada, Australia, Indonesia and Qatar. Some who live abroad schedule annual trips home solely to fulfil their Thaipusam vows.
One encounter remains especially close to his heart.
A Sikh man, married to a Christian woman, once requested a heavy kavadi.
Midway up the steps, the man broke down in tears.
“I thought something was wrong with the kavadi,” he said.
“But instead, he told me about his pain, years of marriage without children, the pressure, the hurtful comments.”
Balasubramaniam urged him to release those burdens as he climbed.
Six months later, the man called with unexpected news that his wife was pregnant and he had received a promotion at work.
Although the family later relocated to Qatar, they continue to return to Malaysia for Thaipusam every year.
Balasubramaniam refuses designs that contradict religious practices and ensures each kavadi matches the devotee’s physical capacity.
The heaviest kavadi he has carried weighed 52kg, but he discourages excessive weight for safety reasons.
“Only after everything is settled, when Thaipusam is truly over, will I carry my own kavadi and fulfil my vows,” he said.
He stressed that carrying a kavadi is not merely a physical act but a disciplined spiritual undertaking.
Devotees typically observe a vegetarian diet for 21 or 48 days, visit a temple daily and perform regular prayers.
He said traditionally, once a person carries a kavadi, the vow is observed for at least three consecutive years.
He shared that the kavadi traces its origins to the legend of Idumban, a devoted follower of Sage Agastya who carried two sacred hills on a pole as instructed.
Tested by Lord Murugan, Idumban learned that even the heaviest burdens can be borne through purity, surrender and devotion.
He became the first kavadi bearer and those who follow his path are believed to receive divine blessings.
