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| Malaysia - Devotees, Visitors Gather At Hindu Temples For Thaipusam Jan 20, 11 |
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KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Thousands of Hindu devotees began to throng the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves near here Wednesday in conjunction with Thaipusam Thursday.
Many of them were seen fulfilling their vows ahead of the huge crowd of 1.3 million people expected tomorrow.
Elizabeth Sandanasamy, 30, of Setapak, who had followed the silver chariot today in a procession from the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in the heart of the city to Batu Caves, said Thaipusam this year seemed to be grander.
Mohanambal, 47, said she had also joined the chariot procession as she had done for several years now.
"The whole family follows the chariot. We walk from Jalan Tun H.S. Lee. It has become a routine for us every Thaipusam," she told Bernama.
Visitors were also seen patronising the numerous stalls selling food, drinks and various items along the road, with the stallholders made up of all races, including Malays and Chinese.
Abdul Rahim Taufik, 20, of Teluk Intan said Thaipusam provided him an opportunity to earn a little more because of the encouraging response to his goods.
"This is the second time that we have put up a stall here. Usually, we sell our wares at pasar malam (night markets) in Perak. Due to the encouraging response last year, we decided to set up shop again this year," said Abdul Rahim who sells flowers, watches and decorative items.
At Batu Caves, there were also individuals who were giving away free food to the people.
S. Magesan, who has been donating free food to the people for the past 18 years, said he would distribute 60,000 packets of "mee goreng" (fried noodles).
Today, he was giving away 25,000 packets from noon to late at night.
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) is supplying clean water from seven static tanks set up outside the temple premises, and has set up a counter to provide 15,000 bottles of drinking water and soft drinks to visitors.
The police and people's volunteer corps (Rela) members were on duty to ensure public order.
In GEORGE TOWN, hundreds of foreign tourists joined Hindus in smashing coconuts during the chariot procession of about 10km from Kovil Veedu in Lebuh Penang to the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga.
A German, Thomas Laufer, 44, an accountant from Stuttgart, said this was his first experience of Thaipusam.
Laufer, who was accompanied by his wife, Margot, said this was their first trip to Malaysia and he got to know about Thaipusam when he visited the Batu Caves temple in Selangor last week.
"It's quite amazing to see them breaking so many coconuts at the same time and cleaning it up so quickly to prevent traffic congestion," he told Bernama when met at Jalan Datuk Keramat.
A backpacker, Oscar Cenvena, 25, a property agent from Barcelona, Spain, described the festival as amazing and something very different from their own cultures.
"This is a very exciting celebration, and I'm impressed," he said.
He said he would have postponed his flight to Singapore later today if he had known about the celebration earlier.
"I got to know about Thaipusam early this morning when they told me that there will be people carry the 'kavadi' and undergoing penance by piercing their face and body with metal spikes in fulfilment of vows to God," he said.
However, Cenvena said he would return to Malaysia on Feb 2 to witness the Chinese New Year celebration here
Source - bernama.com |
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