Golden chariot to make appearance at Thaipusam

KUALA LUMPUR: Two chariots, one the usual silver chariot and the other a golden one, will go in procession from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in the city to the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves in conjunction with Thaipusam this year.
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Dhevasthanam chairman Tan Sri R. Nadarajah said today the 6.7-metre-high golden chariot, which was specially made for the 'Vinayagar Chathurthi' festival last year at a cost of RM5 million, would be taken in the procession only this year.
"The golden chariot will be taken in the procession to enable the Hindu community in the city to see it because public donations had been received for making it," he said to Bernama.
The golden chariot would bear the idol of Lord Vinayagar while the silver chariot would carry the idols of Lord Muruga and his two consorts, Valli and Theivanai, he added.
Nadarajah said the procession of the chariots would begin at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee at 10 pm on Jan 29 and end at about 2 pm on the following day at Batu Caves.
He also said that only the silver chariot would make the return journey from Batu Caves to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple on Feb 1, accompanied by about 200,000 Hindu devotees.
Thaipusam, which falls on Jan 31 this year, is observed by Hindus all over the world in the month of 'Thai' in the Tamil calendar to commemorate the act of Goddess Parvati presenting the 'vel' (lance} to her son Lord Muruga as an embodiment of her 'shakti' or power to vanquish the evil Soorapadman and restore peace and well-being.
During Thaipusam, Hindus will fulfill their vows by carrying well-decorated 'kavadi' bearing pots of milk as an offering to Lord Muruga. They will climb the 272 steps leading to the temple in a cave in Batu Caves.
Nadarajah said that about 1.5 million Hindu devotees and foreign tourists were expected to throng Batu Caves which has gained popularity with the world's largest idol of Lord Muruga standing 42.7 metres high at the foot of the steps leading up to the temple.
He also said that the temple and the 400 stalls at Batu Caves would remain open even during the eclipse of the moon that would take place on Thaipusam Day.
Hindu devotees could go ahead with fulfilling their vows and engaging in prayer during the period of the eclipse on Jan 31 because a special 'parigara pooja' (remedy prayers) would be held after the eclipse that night, he said.
Nadarajah apologised for any inconvenience that devotees might encounter because of the renovation in several parts of the temple area which might not be completed before Thaipusam.
Thaipusam in Malaysia is celebrated in several other temples as well, including at the Sri Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani Temple in Penang and the Arulmigu Subramaniar Temple at Gunung Cheruh in Ipoh, Perak. — Bernama