Children and Thaipusam
THOUSANDS of devotees as well as spectators braved large crowds at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to observe and witness one of Malaysia’s most prominent religious festivals – Thaipusam.
Children also performed penance by carrying the kavadi and going through the same rituals as adults.
Since they were toddlers, Shalini Paramasivam, 12, and her two siblings, Rubeni, 11, and Kiven, nine, have been bearing the pal kodam (milk pot offering), with help from their parents.
This year, Shalini carried the pal kodam as thanksgiving for the fulfilment of her wish to score 5As in her UPSR (Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah) exams.
Usually, the milk pot is balanced carefully on the head to prevent spillage. The children do not go into a trance but follow their mother as she walks up the 272 steps to the shrine.
“I prayed very hard to score high marks so I’m carrying the pal kodam to fulfil my vow,” Shalini said prior to yesterday’s festival.
The children have been following in their mother’s footsteps – going on a vegetarian diet, sleeping on hard floors and foregoing all forms of frivolous entertainment.
This is one way of sacrificing life’s comforts. This year was no exception. However, the children do not pierce their tongues with the vel (spear representing Lord Subramanya’s lance).
Their mother, Magisveri Govindasamy, 37, started carrying the karagam (a pot with holy waters) seven years ago to offer thanks to Lord Murugan for her family’s health and happiness.
“Shalini and the other children do have aches and pains when sleeping on hard surfaces without pillows but when they watch everyone doing it, they stop complaining,” said Magisveri.
“As a parent, I feel it is important to get our children involved in this festival. We dedicate this month not only to fulfilling vows, but to guidance and blessings as well,” she added.
Parenthots learns what is involved when children fulfil vows at Thaipusam.
Book reviews
The Not-for-parents Travel Book is for adolescents who like soaking up information. It covers 200 countries from North and South America to Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania.
In Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies?, author Jena Pincott provides a refreshing and interesting take on pregnancy and the science behind it.
The birds and the bees
When is it a good time to have that talk with your children?
Manager Andri Iskandar Nadzri says it’s best to talk to the kids about puberty and sex when they start going to school or preschool.
“Children and young adults today are increasingly being bom- barded with material of a sexual nature. To me, this is one of the biggest challenges in trying to decide which content is suitable for my children,” he says.
Entrepreneur Dayang Lily Abang Muas believes such conversations should be guided by religion.
“This is done at the appropriate age (above 10 years old) when they are ready for it. In Islam, puberty comes with responsibility,” she explains.
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Readers write in
There are five articles this week – four mothers share their stories on date night, miscarriages and even one on rushing to the hospital when her child sticks a small item up her nostril; one dad writes about being inspired by his mother’s love.
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