Golden chariot the main attraction at Thaipusam procession
GEORGE TOWN: More than 200,000 Hindu devotees and tourists, local and foreign, lined up Lebuh Penang to the Sri Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga, here to watch the maiden golden chariot procession yesterday.
In past years, devotees and tourists alike had only witnessed the procession of the silver chariot carrying the idol of Lord Murugan and accompanied by traditional Indian music from ‘Mridangam’ and ‘Natheswaran’ during Thaipusam.
However, unlike previous years, this year the golden chariot procession started at 5.30am from the Kovil Veedu Temple in Lebuh Penang while the silver chariot started at 7am.
A check carried out by Bernama along Jalan Magazine and Jalan Datuk Keramat showed that both processions went on smoothly in the presence of police and volunteers.
Thousands of coconuts were smashed along a 10km stretch that featured tents offering food and drinks for free ( Thanir Panthal) to devotees and tourists. A devotee, K Chandran, 51, from Johor said he brought his wife and three children to celebrate Thaipusam in Penang this year, specifically to watch the golden chariot in motion.
“In the past we had only gone as far as Batu Caves, Selangor during Thaipusam but this year the main attraction was the golden chariot.
Furthermore, this was the first time a golden chariot procession is being held in Malaysia.
“We were delighted to be able to watch the golden chariot procession from a close range. We broke 100 coconuts to pay homage to Lord Murugan,” said the businessman.
A Singaporean, S Parashar, 32, said he chose to celebrate Thaipusam in Penang to watch the golden chariot.
“In Singapore Thaipusam is not as grand as in Malaysia.
“Next year I will also return to Penang for Thaipusam and carry the kavadi to fulfil my vow,” he said.
Meanwhile, Timur Laut police chief ACP Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said Thaipusam celebrations and the procession of the golden chariot and silver chariot went on smoothly.
Today, devotees will be carrying colourful kavadi and climb 512 steps to reach the Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani Temple atop the hill in Jalan Kebun Bunga here to fulfill their vows.
On the third day, the idol of Lord Murugan would be carried from the Nattukottai Chettiar to the Kovil Veedu Temple in Lebuh Penang. — Bernama