All set for Thaipusam

KUALA LUMPUR: The stage is set for Thaipusam tomorrow, the largest annual religious gathering of Hindus in Malaysia.

The festival, which is to fulfil vows and pay penance, is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvathi presented Lord Muruga a holy spear to fight evil.

It is celebrated on the full moon day of the Thai month, one of the most auspicious months in the Tamil calender, which falls tomorrow.

The celebration is a colourful fusion of faith, thanksgiving, and hope and it is usually celebrated in a grand manner at all major temples in the country from Kedah to Johor, with Hindus carrying various types of “kavadi” or milk pots.

Thaipusam is the next biggest celebration by Hindus after Deepavali. It usually falls in January or February each year, and also it is a day of sacrament and thanksgiving for Lord Muruga.

Hindus prepare themselves for this festival by cleansing their bodies through fasting and abstinence, usually observing a vegetarian diet for a certain period of time.

In Malaysia, this celebration climaxes at the Batu Caves Sri Subramaniyar Temple, where devotees carry their “kavadis” or milk pots up the 272 steps of the temple cave.

This celebration is not only attended by Hindus, but also atrracts various races from all walks of life, including tourists who are mesmerised by the colours and sounds of the festival.

Besides the grand procession at Batu Caves, Thaipusam is also celebrated in Penang, Perak, Pahang and Johor as well.

While the celebration reached its peak tomorrow, devotees have started paying their penance since a week ago, and last Sunday it was reported that some 100,000 people converged at Batu Caves to perform their rights.

The five-ton silver chariot bearing the idol of Lord Murugan left the Jalan Bandar Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Kuala Lumpur at midnight yesterday and reached the Baru Caves temple at noon today, marking the official start of the festival.

The Batu Caves Sri Subramaniyar Temple management committee chairman M Nadarajah told a press conference yesterday that all arrangements had been made for this year’s Thaipusam and the management was expecting a big crowd as usual.

Going green

Meanwhile in Penang, the focal point would be at the Balathandayuthapani Temple, known as the Waterfall Hill Temple which holds the distinction of being the oldest Hindu temple in the state.

The temples in Penang are going green this time around, prohibiting the use of styrofoam boxes used to pack food and other items.

Temple chairman P Kuvenaraju said although the ban on styrofoam boxes was implemented last year, it was not enforced.

“But this year we are implementing the ban. This year, Thaipusam would be greener and healthier than the previous years,” he said.

This Thaipusam would also enter the record book as Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is expected to visit the Sri Subramaniya Swami Temple, in Sungai Petani, Kedah, tomorrow.

This is the first time in more than a few decades that a prime minister is gracing the occasion.

“He (Najib) is proving that 1Malaysia is not a mere slogan. We are very happy to welcome him at the temple,” Kuvenaraju said.

Meanwhile, early this morning the silver chariot of Lord Murugan arrived at the MIC headquarters en route to Batu Caves. This is the first time in MIC history that a Thaipusam celebration was held in front of its headquarters.

Party president G Palanivel, who took over only two months ago from S Samy Vellu, was at hand to welcome the chariot with hordes of party members and leaders.

They broke 1,008 coconuts as a sign to discard bad luck.