Colourful yet religious affair as thousands converge to fulfil vows
BY ROYCE TANandJUSTIN ZACK
THE STAR
Religious procession: Devotees carrying milk pots on their heads as they walk to Batu Caves. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands of devotees thronged Batu Caves to fulfil their annual vows to Lord Muruga for the Thaipusam celebrations this year.
Chants of “Vel! Vel!” filled the air as they proceeded to the flight of 272 steps to the temple.
People from all walks of life, devotees and tourists alike, made for a colourful crowd as they converged at the area.
Driver P. Chella Thurai, 56, drew stares from the crowd as he arrived at the entrance to Batu Caves with 54 red and green apples and oranges hooked to his flesh.
He had walked some 15km from Jalan Imbi to fulfil his vows to Lord Muruga and it has been an annual affair for him for the past 30 years.
Another crowd attraction was a large statue of Sri Panjamuga Anjeneyar, a manifestation of Lord Hanuman with five heads and 10 arms on a chariot.
Young devotee: A child getting her head shaved during the celebrations.
Coming all the way from the Sri Panjamuga Anjeneyar Temple in Klang, its committee member S. Krishnarao, 48, said four devotees, with hooks on their backs, pulled the chariot, which weighed hundreds of kilogrammes, to Batu Caves after having parts of the chariot assembled nearby.
“This is the fifth year we’re doing this to pay homage to Lord Muruga. The devotees pulling the chariot were in their late 20s,” he said.
Foreign visitors were in particular awe of the goings-on.
Many were seen armed with cameras and selfie sticks as they snapped away.
For 31-year-old expats, web designer Bernard Biggs and teacher Chloe Tabley, this was their first Thaipusam at Batu Caves, although not their first trip to the temple.
“It’s a first for us and it feels like we’re walking in India. The colours and smells all remind me of the country.
“We’ve been to the temple before but not during this holiday. So it’s a bit funny to us when we noticed that the monkeys were nowhere to be seen!” said Biggs, who hails from South Africa.
Seeking blessings: Thousands of devotees climbing the 272 steps to the temple to fulfil their vows to Lord Muruga. — ART CHEN/The Star
The trio of 24-year-old Kate Tabsin, Kate Avery, 23, and Olivia Bier, 34, were first-time visitors and they intended to soak in all of the culture that was on hand.
“It’s amazing! I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Avery.
“It looks quite painful though. I can’t imagine myself being able to carry that,” said Tabsin, referring to the devotees carrying the kavadi.
Security was tight with a large number of police deployed for the festival.
They lined the streets leading to Batu Caves and many more were also stationed inside the temple grounds alongside military personnel who were patrolling the area with machine guns.
Yet, the strong presence of armed forces did not intrude on the festivities.
Thaipusam falls on the full moon of the 10th month of the Tamil Calendar, Thai.
During that time, the full moon is in transit through the brightest star known as Pusam, hence the name Thaipusam.
Fullfilling vows to Lord Murugan
BY CAVINA LIM, CHONG KAH YUAN, N. TRISHA, IVONNE LIM, andREENA HOOTHE STAR
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THERE was a sea of people making their way to the Balathandayuthapani Hilltop Temple to fulfil their vows and pay homage to Lord Murugan at the Thaipusam celebration in Penang.
The sweltering heat did not stop the devotees from participating in the holy celebration as well as the many tourists and locals who joined the crowd to witness the event yesterday.
The roads leading to the temple were filled with the colourful sights of kavadi bearers.
Chants of “Vel! Vel!” could be heard as the devotees walked barefoot while carrying kavadis as well as paal kudam (milk pots).
Driver S. Francis, 51, had been carrying kavadi for the last 40 years to fulfil a vow.
More than 20 other family members joined him, including his nephew M. Suria Dass, 14, who was carrying a kavadi for the third consecutive year. Six family members carried milk pots.
Francis’ sister-in-law, K. Priya, 39, said three generations of the family were present to join in the procession.
“We believe that by fulfilling our vows, it will bring good health, wealth and blessings,” she added.
Devotees dancing as they carry kavadis on their shoulders.
Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy estimated that 1.3 million people came for the celebration in Penang.
“This year, there are 40,000 milk pot bearers compared to last year’s 36,000. The number of kavadi bearers had also increased from 400 last year to 600,” he said at a high tea held at the temple’s management office yesterday.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government was giving the temple RM200,000 this year for the Thaipusam celebration.
Digi Telecomunications Sdn Bhd handed over a mock cheque of RM160,000 to the temple as well.
About 150 thaneer panthal (refreshment stalls) lined the streets to provide vegetarian food and drinks to the public along the route.
At the Malaysia Airlines stall in Jalan Utama, 15 staff members from Kuala Lumpur and Penang and their families served up free vegetarian food to 3,000 devotees.
Devotees presenting trays of offerings during the chariot procession of Lord Murugan as it set out from the Kovil Veedu (Temple House) in Penang Street to the Hilltop Temple in Jalan Waterfall.
MAS officer G. Arjunam said this was the fifth year the airline was carrying out the initiative.
“This is a collective effort by the staff. We are doing this so that the airline will prosper. We hope this year will be a prosperous year,” he added.
Among the foreigners who came to watch the colourful festival were Brazilian couple Cheryn Lejne, 32, and Gregorio Russo, 31, who were both awed by the devotion showed by those taking part in the event.
“Back home we have a carnival where people come out and celebrate life and party on the streets but it does not have any religious significance,” Lejne said, adding that she loved the traditional Indian attire and was looking forward to getting one for herself.
“We just relocated from Brazil and have had the privilege of experiencing many new cultures. This is the first major festival we are witnessing and it has been incredible,” said Lejne who just started work as the senior business manager of a company in Penang.
An elderly devotee being taken uphill on a chair by volunteers to perform her prayers at the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Hilltop Temple in Jalan Waterfall.
Russo said they loved to travel and experience new cultures.
“Living in Penang will be great as there are so many different cultures and its nice to see the harmony. You grow as a person when you experience things like these,” he said.
A family of four from Germany were among the visitors at Jalan Utama, taking the opportunity to expose their children to culture.
Sales director Daniel Dehner,36, said it was good for his kids to learn about different traditions and beliefs.
German Daniel Dehner (left) with his family spotted in Jalan Utama.
The three-day celebration will end today when the silver chariot bearing Lord Murugan makes its return journey from the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga to the Kovil Veedu (Temple House) in Penang Street.
The 7.6km return journey, starting at 6pm, will pass Jalan Air Terjun, Jalan Gottlieb, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Cantonment, Jalan Macalister, Jalan Anson, Jalan Burma, Jalan Transfer, Jalan Sri Bahari, Jalan Penang, Lebuh Campbell, Lebuh Buckingham, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, Lebuh Chulia, Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Pasar, Lebuh Penang, Lebuh China, Lebuh Pantai, Lebuh Pasar and Lebuh Penang.
