KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, February 9, 2009: Hindu devotees in Malaysia celebrated Thaipusam by going to several temples in the country. The chanting of “vel, vel” rose above Batu Caves yesterday as an estimated 1.2 million Hindu devotees and visitors thronged the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple for Thaipusam.
More than 1,000 policemen oversaw traffic, safety and security, as a steady stream of devotees and visitors braved the steep 272-step climb to the Lord Murugan temple inside the cave. There were also about 600 stalls selling an assortment of delicacies, souvenirs, prayer items, clothing and accessories, among others.
Thaipusam is celebrated by Hindus on the full moon day in the Thai month of the Tamil calendar, which is in January or February. The festival markes an occasion when Murugan received a vel (lance) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.
In KUALA LUMPUR, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu told reporters that more than 10,000 Hindu devotees carried the “kavadi” and the “pal koodam” milk pot, as well as took part in the coconut breaking ritual to fulfill their vows for wishes that had been granted or to repent for past sins.
In JOHOR BAHARU, thousands of Hindu devotees celebrated the festival by holding the kavadi and pal koodam procession. The kavadi bearers walked for about two kilometres from Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam in Jalan Ungku Puan in the city centre to Arulmigu Thandayuthapani Kovil in Jalan Kuil.
In PENANG, more than 50,000 Hindu devotees converged at the Sri Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani in Jalan Kebun Bunga to fulfill their vows. Among them was student, Koh Tze Lim, 18, who was with his family to perform their prayers at the temple for the Thaipusam festival. “We also went through the fasting ritual and only ate vegetables on Friday for four days,” he said, adding that he prayed to be able to do well in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination which he would be sitting for this year.
A tourist from Canada, only known as Julien, 34, said, watching the Thaipusam festival celebration was an experience which he would share when he returned home. Having only read about the festival in books and magazines, he said, he was amazed to see how it was celebrated.
In IPOH, a crowd of about 100,000 Hindu devotees were at the Subramaniar temple at Gunung Cheroh for the festival. Various religious rituals, including the Lord Murugan procession from the Sri Maha Mariamman temple at Sungai Pari to the Kallumai Arul Subramaniar temple at Gunung Cheroh took place.