Kurta, garlands cultural elements, not religious, say Indian leaders

Traditional attire, such as kurta, and flower garlands are part of Indian culture and have nothing to do with the Hindu religion, Indian leaders said today, refuting the Perlis mufti’s suggestion that by donning such attire at Thaipusam, the prime minister was taking part in the religious ceremony.

Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk R. S. Mohan Shan also said that presenting a garland was, in fact, a sign of respect for honoured guests.

"It has always been the Indian way of respecting others. It is an important aspect of our culture and has nothing to do with religion," he told The Malaysian Insider.

"There is nothing in the Quran that says Muslims cannot be presented with garlands."

Mohan was responding to a statement by Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin that Datuk Seri Najib Razak should not have worn a "Hindu" attire nor should he have been presented with a garland when he attended the Thaipusam celebrations in Batu Caves on Tuesday.

"They (Najib's advisers) should be firm on this matter and inform the organisers of the Thaipusam celebration in Batu Caves that Najib will attend on the condition that he not take part in any Hindu ritual," said Asri.

"This is what Islam forbids. Muslim leaders are not prohibited from attending other religious festivals, but there are rules and limits."

Batu Caves' Sri Subramaniam Temple chairman Tan Sri R. Nadarajah said that it was a tradition to garland any VIP who attended any function as a sign of respect.

"Many sultans, prime ministers, chief ministers and other dignitaries have attended Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves.

"As a mark of respect, we garland them. This is tradition. Datuk Seri Najib attended as our guest and we did the same," he added.

Najib did not enter the temple and was just at Batu Caves to perform his official duty as the prime minister, said MIC vice-president Datuk M. Saravanan.

"Why is this being made into an issue? The mufti has failed to understand that the kurta and the garland are cultural elements for Indians. They are not a Hindu thing," he said, adding that Najib was prime minister for all Malaysians.

Hitting out at the mufti, Mohan said Muslims in countries such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan wore kurtas and not the baju Melayu, which is a Malay traditional costume.

"We can see how shallow-minded the mufti is. Najib is not only the prime minister for Muslims but for all Malaysians," he said.

"We don't deny that Najib is a Muslim. And we have given him all the respect to him as a Muslim. But Muslims in other countries wear similar clothes as Islam does not impose any dress code as long as one is dressed modestly," he said.

Bringing up such a trivial matter, Mohan said, was yet another attempt to create discord and tension among the different races and religions in Malaysia.

Two years ago, Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria claimed Najib had "sacrificed his faith" by attending the Thaipusam celebrations, and said he advised the prime minister each year not to attend such events as they were an "idolatrous act".

But Harussani later back-pedalled on his criticism after Najib spoke to him personally, and said the prime minister had not flouted Islamic doctrine as he was not involved in a religious procession nor did he enter the cave where the main religious activities are conducted. – February 7, 2015.

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