Hindu Malaysia

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 5 photos

My name is Thiago Siqueira and I’m a photographer. I’ve been living in Sydney, Australia for the last seven years and here I realise that my mission is to be a photographer.
I’ve spent most of my life searching for something that could fulfilled my soul and my mind, but was when I arrived in Australia I understood the world was right in front of me and was up to me to go and get it.
Since then I’ve travel to different places and seen cultures I’ve never imagine I would. And it was the first one, Thailand, that really opened my eyes to the true beauty the world can offer, if you are up to the challenge.
This scholarship to me is the perfect way to get my foot through the door of pro photography and most important the opportunity to learn.
I truly believe in my capacity of finding the right moment and my objective is to make a difference, show people what is need to be seen, make the real contribution.

Last year I was in Malaysia for about a month and there I saw an amazing diversity of cultures and creeds. One of the celebrations I had the opportunity to witness was The Deepavali, the Hindu New Year festival of light, at the notorious Batu Caves located in Gombak district, 13 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And the photos I choose tell a little bit about this beautiful demonstration of faith.
Photo 1 -Flower necklaces
Brightly coloured rows of leis are displayed for sale to pilgrims and worshippers;
Photo 2 -Steps to Batu Caves
Worshippers and tourists slowly ascend the 272 steps into the Batu Cave;
Photo 3- The golden statue of Lord Murugan;
Photo 4- Worshippers make offerings at one of the many temples inside and around the Batu Caves;
Photo 5- Flames symbolising the triumph of light over darkness as the Hindu New Year commences.