Johor Sultan meets devotees

KLUANG: The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, joined in Thaipusam celebrations organised by the Hindu Samajam Sri Renggam Sri Murugan Temple in Renggam today.
This is the second Indian public event held at the district to be honoured by the presence of the Sultan after the Deepavali celebrations last November.
Joining Sultan Ibrahim in the temple’s Thaipusam celebration was Johor Human Resources and Unity committee chairman R. Vidyananthan.
The Sultan also joined the devotees to a vegetarian luncheon at the temple hall.
Over 15,000 people joined in the fiesta like celebration and loud chants of “Vel, Vel" were heard as the devotees fulfilled their vows.
Temple secretary G. Ganesh said devotees started their procession at the Sungai Renggam early in the morning, carrying milk pots as offerings or kavadi.
They walked for five kilometres before finishing at the temple.
“The number of kavadi registered with the temple for Thaipusam is 500 which is an increase from last year. Usually we have 7,000 people joining in but this year it doubled with heavy support from other races who also joined the Sultan to a vegetarian meal at the nearby hall," Ganesh said.
Meanwhile in Johor Baru, some 50,000 devotees and kavadi bearers from Sri Raja Maha Mariamman Temple and Thandayuthabani Temple adhered to the strict guidelines during the Thaipusam processions to ensure the event proceeded smoothly.