In just two weeks, Hindus in Malaysia will be celebrating an important festival, Thaipusam, which is a colourful and spiritual parade of purification and cleansing rituals.
For those of you who don’t know, Thaipusam is a festival celebrated on the day of the Pusam star in the month of Thai. This usually falls between January and February. According to legends, Thaipusam signifies the day the Hindu god, Lord Muruga, received his Vel (spear), blessed by Mother Shakti. Legends say that Lord Muruga managed to overcome all demonic forces and liberated his people by using his Vel. Thaipusam also signifies the day another Hindu god, Lord Shiva, opened the Wisdom Eye of a group of sages by dancing the Aanantha Nadanam (dance of bliss).
On Thaipusam day, devotees can be seen carrying a kavadi (two semicircular pieces of wood or steel, bent and attached to a cross structure. This is then balanced on the shoulders of a devotee. A kavadi will be heavily decorated with flowers, peacock feathers, pictures of Lord Muruga and wil have two small pots filled with milk on either sides), as a form of thanksgiving to Lord Muruga, in fulfillment of a vow. One can carry the kavadi as a thanksgiving for prayers answered, while some do it to seek a boon. Some even do it to develop their spirituality.
This Hindu festival is celebrated on a grand scale in Malaysia, especially in Kuala Lumpur (Batu Caves), Johor Bahru, Ipoh and Penang. This year, the festival falls on the 27th of January, but in Penang, the festival will be celebrated from the 26th to the 28th of January.
26 January 2013
On the eve of Thaipusam, a chariot procession will take place where a statue of Lord Muruga is placed on a stunning silver chariot, which will pass through Little India (at 6am) and head to the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple of Waterfall Road. The procession will end at midnight.
The best spot to catch this parade is at the Dato Keramat Road, in front of Penang Times Square. The chariot will stop here for one or two hours. The timing varies every year, so it is best to be on standby from 12noon.
[Please refer to the George Town City Map which has two coloured highlights representing the routes. Highlighted in pink, is the route where the Chariot Procession starts from Little India (Add: 138 Penang Street) and ends at the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple of Waterfall Road]
27 January 2013
On Thaipusam day, devotees can be seen carrying kavadis, with some undergoing a physical endurance of being pierced on their bodies with hooks and vels. The piercings will be done at the Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple at Lorong Kulit (beside the Rapid Penang office). This starts from 3pm onwards, where most of the kavadis would start their journey heading towards the new Waterfall Temple called Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Kovil.
The main location of the festival, where roads will be closed from traffic stretches from the cross junction or traffic lights of Jalan Utama (Western Road) and Macalister Road right up to the foot of the Waterfall Temple. The best time to view the Kavadis would be from 3.00pm onwards. The last Kavadi will go up to the temple by 9.30pm and it is during this time that you will see the bigger Kavadis being carried.
It will be a bit of a challenge to park your cars on this day as the organizers will not provide parking spaces. One will have to park along the streets and lanes.
There will also be a 100 beautifully decorated stalls along the pilgrimage route. These stalls will offer free refreshments such as drinks and vegetarian food to the public continuously.
28 January 2013
On the 28th, the silver chariot carrying Lord Muruga’s statue will make a return trip to the Kovil Veedu (temple house) located on Penang Street. The return trip from the Waterfall Temple will start at around 6.00pm and would take a different route back to Penang Street, reaching at dawn, on the next day.
[Please refer to the George Town City Map, where the return trip is highlighted in green]
During the 3-day celebrations, devotees who make a vow to shave their heads, get it done at the temple grounds of the Waterfall Temple, behind the Arulmigu Sree Ganesha Temple. There will also be over 200 stalls selling locally made souvenirs and decorative items as well as products from India along Western Road and Gottlieb Road.
The following are some helpful information:
- An Information Booth would be located at the entrance of Waterfall Temple for assistance
- Ferry services (mainland – island) will operate 24 hours on 26th and 27th January 2013
- There will be 2 first aid booths (operated by Penang General Hospital) located in the mid of Waterfall Road and up the hill at Waterfall Temple
- There will be 24 hours of Police patrol at the festival area
- Fire Brigade would be stationed at 2 separate locations within the festival area.
- 20 male and 20 female toilets are located in the Waterfall Temple’s compound (behind Arulmigu Sree Ganesha Temple)
- There will also be mobile toilets available at the Youth Park and Jalan Dunlop
For further enquiries, kindly contact the Penang Hindu Endowment Board at 04 650 5215.
Above photos taken from RaveDev Photography
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