Pulau Pinang | Penang Tourism & Travel Guide | Georgetown UNESCO World Heritage City | Penang Hotel Resort | Penang Food Paradise

Malaysian Hindu devotees smash coconuts during a 10-kilometer procession march to signal the start of Thaipusam, an annual festival symbolizing the struggle between good and evil in Penang Island, northwestern Malaysia. (AP)

DAY 1: Procession from Kovil Veedu to Nattukotai Chettiar Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga

Hundreds of thousands of old coconuts were broken as a form of thanksgiving by Hindu devotees and foreign tourists as the Chariot of Lord Murugan in the streets of Penang, today in conjunction of the annual celebration of Thaipusam.

The procession of the flower bedecked silver Chariot bearing the deity Murugan started at Kovil Veedu in Lebuh Penang about 5.30 am this morning (19 Jan 2011) and was drawn by cows.

It covers a 10 km route and passes through Lebuh Chulia, Lebuh Victoria, Jalan Magazine, Jalan Dato Keramat and Jalan Utama before arriving at the Nattukotai Chettiar Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga at around 9 pm tonight.

The tradition of breaking coconut is carried out to cleanse the roads for this divine journey.

The chariot will remain at the (Thendayuthapani Nattukottai) Chettiar temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga till the third day and will make its return journey on the third evening.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7LAEPoRmAY]

DAY 2: Vel Procession from Hindu Temple, Lorong Kulit to Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani Hilltop Temple, Jalan Kebun Bunga.

Devotees go through a physical endurance of being skewered and pierced on the back and front of their bodies by hooks with miniature urns as an act of penance. Majority of the devotees who go through this act are Indians but Chinese, Sikh and other visitors can also be seen taking part in this act of faith which leaves many devotees and observers alike, spiritually transformed.

Upon reaching the temple, devotees will fulfill their vows, offer thanksgiving prayers and penance to Lord Muruga.

On the second day of Thaipusam, at midnight, Lord Muruga will be taken up to the hilltop temple for his pending marriage proposal to his consort Valli. This marriage to his consort Valli never materialized to these days. It was said that someone sneezed when the ceremony was conducted.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IJqUCv4U_A]

During the festival, more than 100 beautifully-decorated refreshment stalls (‘thaneer panthal’), are erected along Waterfall Road road where charitable Chinese and Indian families give out bottled water, fruits, sweet, buns and prepared sweetened and sour rice to devotees. Thunderous loud music, singing, dancing and the beating of drums of devotional songs by their supporters can be seen and heard far and wide throughout the entire vicinity of the festival.

DAY 3: The chariot returns to Kovil Veedu, Penang Street.

Thaipusam is one of the festivals celebrated by Malaysian Hindus during the full moon in the month of “Thai” in the Tamil Calendar, which usually falls between January and early February.

According to legend, the Thaipusam celebrations began when the goddess Parvathi, Murugan’s mother, gave him a bow and arrow to destroy evil.

Murugan’s success in restoring prosperity and the wellbeing of the people, became an occasion for Hindus to celebrate and observe Thaipusam.

Photo gallery:

These photos are retrieved directly from the Flickr, courtesy to CW Wong, Adam Lai and Hale.

Posted by admin on March 8, 2011 under Religion & Custom.