The Penang Hindu Endowment Board introduces permits for large kavadis and encourages early worship to manage crowds for the upcoming Thaipusam festival.
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Hindu Endowment Board (LWHPP) is intensifying preparations for the Thaipusam festival on 1 February, prioritising safety, comfort, and crowd management.
Over one million Hindu devotees are expected to throng the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, also known as Thaneer Malai, in Jalan Kebun Bunga.
LWHPP chairman RSN Rayer said a key improvement this year is a special permit system for those bringing large Ratham Kavadis, which are small chariot-like structures pulled by several individuals.
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The permit system aims to schedule the entry times of these large kavadis to control movement and prevent safety issues, particularly during the crowded evening peak.
“We are trying to manage it so they do not come at the same time because we worry it could cause traffic congestion like last year, when there was an incident around 7 to 8 pm causing a severe gridlock,” Rayer said.
The board also encourages the elderly, chronically ill, and persons with disabilities to perform their prayers and vows a week before the main day to reduce congestion.
Several ambulance units, fire teams, doctors, and volunteer medical officers will be on standby at the temple, which has 513 steps.
A total of 175 beautifully decorated Thaneer Panthal stalls have been approved along the route to the hilltop temple, an increase from around 155 last year.
Rayer reminded stall managers to only play religious music, stop all music by 11 pm on 1 February, and adhere to bans on entertainment songs, firecrackers, fireworks, and alcohol.
Discussions are ongoing to coordinate the processions of the board’s golden chariot and the Nattukotai Chettiar Temple’s silver chariot for an orderly movement.
Both chariots will depart between 5 am and 5.30 am from their respective starting points on the festival day.
“Compared to before, now we have an understanding, with both parties discussing and cooperating to manage the chariot movement so there is no dispute as happened previously,” Rayer added.
Between 250 and 300 volunteers will be mobilised throughout the celebration, including special teams to monitor kavadi-related incidents.
The Penang celebration is unique for being observed a day earlier as Chetti Pusam, featuring a procession by the Chettiar community with peacock kavadis and the silver chariot.
Since 2017, the festival has also featured a golden chariot carrying the sacred ‘vel’ (spear) of Lord Murugan, with coconuts broken along the procession route as a religious ritual.
The festival commemorates the occasion when Lord Murugan received a divine spear from his mother, Goddess Parvati, to destroy the evil demon Soorapadman. – Bernama
