Thaipusam Update
A million turn up for Thaipusam at Batu Caves
Thaipusam Update
The Star Monday February 9, 2009 By LESTER KONG, NURBAITI HAMDAN, ZALINAH NOORDIN and ADRIAN PHUNG GOMBAK: Despite the scorching sun, more than a million people have thronged the temple in Batu Caves since Saturday to celebrate Thaipusam.
Thousands of devotees carried brightly-decorated ornate frames known as kavadi, some decorated with peacock feathers and garlands. Others carried milk pots. The rituals were performed as acts of penance and to offer thanks to Lord Muruga, to fulfil vows and to repent for past sins.
Thaipusam Update
Devotees carrying milk pots on their heads while making their way to the hilltop Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur during Thaipusam Sunday.
Braving the heat and human traffic, devotees carried out the Hindu rites and fulfilled their vows.
The annual festival drew a crowd of 1.2 million. - S.S. KANESAN / The Star
Chants of "Vel! Vel!" and the rhythm of traditional drums followed the kavadi bearers. The temple took a carnival-like atmosphere with stalls selling traditional Indian food and drinks, framed copper images of Hindu deities, religious literature and music discs. Thaipusam marks the birth of Lord Muruga, the youngest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The festival also marked an occasion when Parvati gave Muruga a lance so that he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.
Sri Mahamariamman Devasthanam Temple chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah said many people took advantage of Thaipusam falling on a Sunday to visit the temple. "In previous years, Thaipusam fell on a weekday ," he said. The National Blood Bank and the Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor organised blood donation and organ pledging campaigns. South African Sonja Gay, 47, and her husband Patrick Gay, 48, who were at the temple grounds, were amazed at the festival.
"This is so fascinating and we've never seen anything like it before! We plan to learn more about Thaipusam," said Sonja, who blended in with the crowd in her Punjabi suit. Patrick, who has been to India, said celebrations in Malaysia were grander than in India. Oh Jun, 40, from Korea, did not mind climbing up the 272 steps to the temple. "I was told there is a very sacred place up there and I want to see for myself why so many people brave the heat to climb up," said Oh Jun.
Thaipusam may draw record crowd
Thaipusam Update
The Star Tuesday February 3, 2009 By MANJIT KAUR, ZALINAH NOORDIN
KUALA LUMPUR: A record-breaking 1.3 million devotees and visitors are expected to pack Batu Caves for the Thaipusam celebration this Sunday. The figure is an increase from the one million people that attended the celebration last year. The Batu Caves temple committee has been making preparations to cater to the expected massive crowd.
Recently, it spent RM640,000 to improve basic amenities like public toilets and water supply. There will also be more than 600 stalls selling food, drinks, trinkets, clothing and souvenirs. Security is another aspect being stressed on. More than 1,000 policemen will be stationed at the temple grounds and its surrounding area on that day. Also for the first time, there will be a 15-minute fireworks display on the eve of Thaipusam. The fireworks would be lighted at midnight, followed by a chariot procession. Temple committee chairman Datuk T. Nadarajah advised those coming not to wear jewellery or carry big amounts of cash, and to take public transportation to avoid congestion in the area.
Thaipusam Update
In Penang, those wishing to break coconuts for Thaipusam will have to pay a higher price for the essential item. The price of the Mawar B grade coconut, suitable for devotees to smash as an act of fulfilling vows, has increased by 50% due to poor harvest during the rainy season. One of the main coconut wholesalers on the island M. Joel Jeyachandran said retailers would sell the coconuts between RM1.70 and RM1.80, especially during Thaipusam.
Last year, the coconut was sold for about RM1. Joel Jeyachandran, whose shop is in Datuk Keramat, said he expected the price to increase after June, as one of the four main coconut plantations would be converted into an oil-palm estate.
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