THE government’s decision to ban all kavadi (except “paal kavadi”, which is also limited by the standard operating procedures) can be accepted in view of the imminent and sporadic Omicron variant threats in the country.
However, what is frustrating the Indian community this Thaipusam is that the announcement to ban kavadi carrying came just days before the celebration.
This is not about politicising an issue. On the contrary, the crux is why the government is seemingly so handicapped in making announcements early so that cascading frustrations are kept at a minimum?
The late announcement reflects a more deep-seated problem of a lack of wisdom and efficacy – a constantly failing government.
Thaipusam is not just a jubilant, social celebration. It is a religiously connected observance where Hindus go through a period of fasting and strict observance of purity of thought, abstinence and even live by a strict vegetarian diet in order to fulfil to the letter on Thaipusam the vows they made with a deep spiritual connectivity.
Aside from the month-long personal preparation of body, mind and soul, there are also the physical and logistic needs that require advance planning, including the made-to-order kavadi props and related paraphernalia.
The Health Ministry has always projected itself as fully capable with its variety of statistics and control mechanisms, having waded through two over years of battling Covid-19 challenges.
The government has also projected an image that it knows best and how to mobilise a variety of strategies and SOPs to keep the spread of emerging variants of the virus within manageable levels.
And the public have been mostly receptive and cooperative to the various SOPs put in place by the government. They even accepted the need for an unwarranted emergency at the start of the pandemic.
Much money is being spent to engage the manpower in this battle against the pandemic – which the authorities state, at times, that it is endemic.
The question is why the planners and decision makers within government are incapable of anticipating problems and risks well in advance so the people are not caught by surprise with sudden short notices.
With an arsenal of statistics at their disposal (which even the public are not privy to), surely the authorities can make proper and learned decisions in good time.
But no! Time and again we witness this charade of last-minute announcements that not only inconvenience the public and add to their frustrations and disappointments, but also result in financial losses as a result of eleventh-hour bans.
Indeed, the last-minute kavadi bans are no fault of the devotees. Perhaps not even that of the temple committees. The Ismail Sabri government must take responsibility for this pathetic failure if we are truly serious about accountability at the national level. – The Vibes, January 18, 2022
J.D. Lovrenciear reads The Vibes
