Grand Tamil, Sikh and Malayalee celebrations

KUALA LUMPUR: After low-key celebrations for two years due to strict Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP), the Tamil, Sikh and Malayalee communities in Malaysia are all set to grandly usher in their respective major festivals today and tomorrow.

Chittirai Puttandu, the Tamil New Year, and Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year, will be celebrated today while Vishu will be observed by the Malayalee community tomorrow.

Malaysia Hindu Sangam president Datuk R.S. Mohan Shan said the Tamil community is expected to celebrate the New Year on a grand scale.

He said the Tamil community can now attend prayer activities in temples without the need for any physical distancing.

“This year is known as Subakiruthu year and it begins at 10.24am on April 14,” he said.

The birth of the Tamil month of Chittirai is marked annually as the first day of the Tamil solar calendar.

Malaysian Hindu Malayalee Cultural and Traditional Association president Dr N.R Nambiar said the celebration this year will be more meaningful since everyone would get a chance to be with their families unlike the last two years.

He said according to the official panjangam (almanac), Vishu will be celebrated tomorrow. It marks the first day of the zodiac new year, the first day of the month called Medam.

Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia president Dr Jasbir Singh said that about 120,000 Sikhs in the country will celebrate the Vaisakhi festival today.

“Several gurdwaras are organising games and setting up stalls to mark the occasion. I would like to advise all Sikhs to adhere to the SOP as they celebrate the auspicious day.”

At Little India in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur and Little India in Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang, Indians were found making final preparations.

Social media comments reveal that the Indian community is excited about two South Indian films, “Thalapathy” Vijay’s Beast and Kannada star Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2, which are heading towards a dramatic face-off in local theatres. – Bernama