Skip to main content
Best News Website or Mobile Service
WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards Worldwide 2022
Best News Website or Mobile Service
Digital Media Awards Worldwide 2022
Hamburger Menu

Advertisement

Advertisement

Asia

Devotees expected to throng temples in Malaysia as Thaipusam festivities resume after 2-year hiatus

Devotees expected to throng temples in Malaysia as Thaipusam festivities resume after 2-year hiatus
Members of the Batu Caves Pillayar Bhajan waiting for J. Sugumaran, who is carrying the kavadi during this year's Thaipusam procession, at the foot of the Batu Caves complex on Jan 31, 2023. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)

KUALA LUMPUR: For the past two years, Hindu devotees in Malaysia were not able to celebrate the Thaipusam festival as a result of the COVID-19 curbs.

Dedicated to the Hindu god of war, Lord Muruga, the festival is a time of repentance for devotees through penance and prayers that lasts for more than a month.

With Thaipusam festivities in full swing this year, Ganesan Maruthumuthu, is back in business. The owner of a kavadi rental shop, Ganesan prepares and rents out the kavadi to devotees.

Kavadi, which in Tamil means carrying weight on the shoulders, is a ritual some devotees undertake during Thaipusam which falls on Sunday (Feb 5). It is typically a structure with an arch that is then held on the shoulders.

In order to avoid the crowds, some Thaipusam processions have already been held earlier.

Ganesan Maruthumuthu (left) runs a kavadi rental shop. He is seen here with Selvakumar G. Singam, a friend of devotee J. Sugumaran, who will be carrying the kavadi for Thaipusam. Selvakumar is seen here placing Lord Muruga’s statue on the kavadi. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Ganesan (right) delivers the kavadi to Selvakumar’s house for it to be prepared for Sugumaran, who will be carrying it during the Thaipusam celebration. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Drums being prepared by a member of the Batu Caves Pillayar Bhajans - a percussion group - at Selvakumar's house to accompany kavadi carrier Sugumaran during his procession. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Ganesan is seen here putting the final touches on the kavadi that will be carried by devotee Sugumaran. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)

For one devotee, 32-year-old J. Sugumaran, this year’s festival is a blessing after he was not able to participate in the festivities in 2021 and 2022 after they were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A devoted follower of Lord Muruga since he was a teenager, Sugumaran told CNA that he had carried the kavadi for 10 consecutive years before Thaipusam was cancelled in the last two years.

“Those two years really hurt me a lot that I even cried. The only thing I could do was to do my prayers at home,” said Sugumaran.

A coconut is smashed to the ground after the last prayer before the kavadi is carried by devotee Sugumaran. The prayer seeks blessings from Lord Muruga. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
After the completion of the final prayer, Sugumaran is transported on a motorcycle to a location some distance from the Batu Caves temple, where he will don the kavadi. Known as the "base", the area - called "Attangkarai" in Tamil - is where others will also prepare before they begin their procession. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)

On Jan 31, Sugumaran managed to fulfill his vow and carried the kavadi up to the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves.

Batu Caves, a limestone outcrop just north of Kuala Lumpur, features Hindu temples and shrines.

At the "Attangkarai", Sugumaran is blessed by a priest before he starts carrying the kavadi on his shoulders. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Sugumaran is seen being blessed by family members and friends before he starts carrying the kavadi. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)

To carry the kavadi, Sugumaran became a vegetarian and performed prayers for 48 days prior to the ritual.

He told CNA that he received support from his family and friends to carry out his vows during that time, including when he carried the kavadi that was adorned with peacock feathers up 272 steps to the temple.

Ganesan (left) and Selvakumar (right) are seen helping Sugumaran put on the kavadi. The devotee told CNA that he had been carrying the kavadi for 10 consecutive years during Thaipusam before the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to it temporarily. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Friends and relatives help to pierce the 'vel' through Sugumaran's cheek. The “vel” is a divine spear that is carried by Lord Muruga. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Sugumaran (centre, carrying the kavadi) and Selvakumar (right) are seen here at the start of the procession to the Batu Caves temple. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
Friends and family members of Sugumaran, as well as members of the Batu Caves Pillayar Bhajan, make their way along a flyover on their way to the Batu Caves temple on Jan 31, 2023. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)

Sugumaran said it took him about 25 minutes to carry the kavadi - which weighed about 45kg - up to the temple.

“I feel so blessed and happy after I fulfilled my vows to my Lord Murugan. I didn't hope for anything from him. As his devotee, it's my responsibility to make my Lord Murugan happy,” said Sugumaran, who wanted to avoid the weekend crowd as he has a one-year-old child. 

Sugumaran takes a break during the procession to catch his breath. Friends and family surround him to give moral support and sing together to the beat of the drums. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)
The group celebrates the end of the procession by singing and dancing in praise of Lord Muruga once they reached the top of the Batu Caves temple. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)

While Sugumaran has completed his vows, many more are expected to throng Batu Caves and other Hindu temples all over the country this weekend to perform their penance. 

Devotee Sugumaran is seen here towards the end of his kavadi procession during Thaipusam at Batu Caves. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)

Batu Caves Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam trustee N. Sivakumar told CNA that up to 2 million people will be expected to throng the temple grounds this year, including tourists from all over the world.

“This year’s celebrations will be very big. Those who couldn’t perform their prayers last year will do it this year,” he said, adding that the largest crowds are expected this weekend.

Sivakumar said that as of Feb 1, an estimated 20,000 people had already carried the Paal Kudam (milk offering) up to the Batu Caves temple. 

He said that many had performed their prayers since the Chinese New Year holidays to avoid the big crowds that are expected on Feb 4 and 5.

The procession of chariots carrying the statues of Lord Murugan began moving from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur on Friday evening and are expected to reach Batu Caves in the late afternoon on Saturday.

Huge Thaipusam celebrations are also expected at Hindu temples in Penang, Perak, Kedah, and Johor.

Source: CNA/rv(as)

Advertisement

Also worth reading

Advertisement