KUALA LUMPUR – The annual temple chariot procession from the Jalan Bandar Hindu temple here to Batu Caves will continue this year, Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said today.
Annuar tweeted that the National Security Council has approved the procession, which will transport Lord Muruga, the Hindu deity to Batu Caves next Wednesday before returning to the Jalan Bandar temple next Friday.
“The condition is that the chariot will not make any stops, with no more than 10 followers allowed, no music, among others. As usual Kuala Lumpur City Hall will monitor (SOP) compliance.”
It is understood that NSC will announce more information on the SOPs for the procession in the next few days.
Thaipusam, which will be observed next Thursday, is expected to see a scaled-down experience by the Hindu community nationwide.
The festival, which usually draws millions of devotees and observers to various locations in the country, has taken a huge step back this year in fear of the Covid-19 resurgence and the added risk of new infections.
The annual celebration in Penang was cancelled by its state government for the first time in more than a century following the pandemic.
Batu Caves Hindu temple chairman Tan Sri R. Nadarajah told a press conference last month that the committee intended to conduct the chariot procession, subject to the approval by the authorities.
The chariot’s journey, he had said, from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun H. S. Lee here for the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves will take about four hours without any stops.
He also reportedly advised people against following the chariot due to the potential crowd risk.
Thaipusam is observed by Hindus worldwide during the month of “Thai” in the Tamil calendar.
The celebrations commemorate the act of Hindu goddess Parvati presenting the Vel (lance) to her son Lord Muruga as an embodiment of her shakti (power) to defeat the evil Asuran (demon) Soorapadman. – the Vibes, January 23, 2021
