2017 Thaipusam a bigger affair

Thaipusam is celebrated with much fanfare -grander than in South India – especially at Batu Caves in Malaysia where this annual religious festival attracts over 1 million visitors including devotees. It is a celebration in honour of Lord Murugan on the first full moon of the Hindu Calendar.

This year, Thaipusam falls on Feb 9. This colourful event is marked by a grand procession of devotees carrying the kavadi and coconut breaking along the route to the cave temple.

In Penang, for the first time after 166 years, the festival will see two chariots taking part in the annual procession along the same route. The yearly ritual of the Silver Chariot moving from the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Queen Street to the Waterfalls Hindu Temple will be joined by the Golden Chariot on its inaugural pilgrimage to the hilltop Hindu Temple from the Hindu Temple in the parallel King Street in George Town. Their departure time is at a 90-minute interval and what separates them is the Golden Chariot will be pulled by devotees while the Silver Chariot by the pair of sacred cows.

The 2017 Penang Thaipu­sam Celebration will be a grander affair unlike how it is done in its past 166 years.

For the first time ever, not just one but two chariots will take part in the annual procession along the same route. The new entry is the Gold­en Chariot which will be pulled by Hindu devotees along the 10 km route from the Mariamman Hindu temple at Queen Street.

The tradi­tional Silver Chariot will leave from Kovil Veedu (translates: Temple House) from Penang Street. This chariot is drawn by two cows. The Penang Hindu Endown­ment Board (PHEB), a body under the state government is organising the Golden Chariot procession. The traditional Sil­ver Chariot procession is organ­ised privately by the Nattukotai Chettiar temple and its trustees, Penang Street.

Both processions will head towards their respec­tive temples at Waterfall Road. Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, Professor Dr. P Ramasamy had said the Golden Chariot would bring an end to the era of a waste monopoly over the Thaipusam chariot procession in Penang. The Chettiar families take turn to orga­nise the procession each year.

Dr Ramasamy also said that Penang is a small island and the state gov­ernment cannot close more roads for the procession, which led to the decision of both chariots to having to take the same route to their re­spective temples at Waterfall Road. The Golden Chariot will head to the Hilltop Murugan Temple, and the silver chariot will head to the Nattukotai Chettiar’s Murugan temple, which is situated along the road that leads to Hilltop Murugan Temple at Waterfall Road, Penang.

Trustee of the Nattukotai Chettiar Temples, Dr A Narayanan said that the trustees did not receive any form of official information that the Golden Chariot is taking the same route and leading the silver char­iot. The Chettiars are concerned that the public will be confused and worried that mishaps could happen if the same route is used by both chariots.

“We are expect­ing more people to come by to spectate the 201 Ts Thaipusam and we foresee a huge logistical setback till the chariot reaches the temple,” said Renganathan Muthu­karuppah, the Managing Trustee of Nattukottai Chettiars Temples. Dr A Narayanan says Thaipusam is actually celebrated as an aus­picious day for Lord Murugan and there is no right or wrong on having a statue or just a spear on the chariot which opposes the view of the Ramachandran, the Executive Director of PHEB who explains that according to the Hindu my­thology, Thaipusam is celebrated as the day where his mother, Lord Parvathi gave him a spear to kill a demon, called Suryapadman but common misconception leads many to think that Thaipusam is Lord Muruga’s Birthday.

But Dr Narayanan highlighted that chari­ots in gold is not a “norm” because “even Palani (a hilltop temple of Lord Muruga in South India), one of the richest temple in Asia does not have the chariot in gold.” Views may differ but the like­ly scenario is this year’s Thai­pusam celebration will certain­ly attract more devotees and tourist as it promises a double and more colourful spectacle.