Colourful kavadi creations

GEORGE TOWN: As Thaipusam beckons, self-taught kavadi maker M. Mohana Sundaram is beaming with pride as he prepares orders from devotees who adore his kavadi creations.

Armed with a small knife and a glue gun, the 48-year-old has been toiling day and night since November to finish 13 selau kavadis.

“Previously, I’ve only managed to do a maximum of four for the festival. But this year, with help from my wife and some of my friends, I managed to make thirteen”, he told theSun on Tuesday.

Claiming this is the most number of kavadis made in Penang, Mohana said it took him about a week to complete one kavadi.

For this year, the father of four has adopted a symbol of the Lord Muruga as the theme for his designs, opting to use the colours yellow, red, green and white.

He uses polystyrene foams, plywood and stainless steel as the base of each kavadi, and has made 11,230 paper flowers to decorate them.

“Each of the 13 kavadis has a different pattern, but I still retain a religious tone to them”, he said, adding that he has also made 78 garlands to adorn each kavadi.

Mohana said he has been making them for 28 years but it started off only as a hobby.

However, he revealed that making a kavadi is a serious matter, as he must be respectful while making the religious ornament by fasting, doing good deeds and refraining from foul language.

He said failing to follow the rules will affect the kavadimaking process.

The carrying of a kavadi is a demonstration of devotion and thanksgiving to Lord Muruga during Thaipusam, especially by devotees whose prayers have been answered. – by Imran Hilmy