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By CHRISTOPHER TAN & WINNIE YEOH
Photos by WAN MOHIZAN WAN HUSSEIN & MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI

Smashing time: Devotees breaking coconuts along Jalan Datuk Keramat in Penang for vows answered.

Joining in fun: American tourists (from second left) Rankin, Walter and Harrisaon together with R. Thevaranjini, 26, (left), and R. Neetiarajini, 24, picking up coconuts for smashing at Jalan Datuk Keramat in George Town.

SMASHED coconuts covered the streets of George Town, Penang, during the Thaipusam celebration as devotees along the route of a silver chariot procession prayed for health and success.

As the silver chariot bearing the image of Lord Muruga inched its way along streets crowded with thousands of people, the devotees also offered flowers, perfumed joss sticks, fruits and other items to the deity.

Many others, including tourists from near and far, lined the streets to take in the sights and sounds.

Spotted among the crowd was delighted father K. Karthikejan, 35, a businessman, who sought divine blessings from Lord Muruga to protect his family and to be successful in business.

He and his staff nurse wife G. Bawani, 32, were blessed with a baby girl K. Puspitha two months ago.

Vegetarian delights: Devotees enjoying free meals at the Ivorycares stall at Jalan Datuk Keramat.

Also joining in the festival at Jalan Datuk Keramat yesterday were three tourists from the United States.

Friends Guston S. Rankin, 24, Nicole Elise Walter, 22, and Forrest T. Harrison, 25, said that they were delighted to see so many people in traditional outfits and with different beliefs coming together.

Also present were the Ng and the Ooi families.

Totalling about 10 people from Alor Setar, they broke 111 coconuts and prayed for good health and success in their careers.

Admin executive Ng Tze Swing, 28, said the 111 number was chosen so that their prayer to be number 1 in most of the things they do can come true.

“We prayed to be the first to be promoted in our jobs, to get a good bonus, and for our family members to be healthy.”

Holy ritual: Devotees making offerings to Lord Muruga as the silver chariot bearing the deity passes along Jalan Datuk Keramat.

Businessman Chew Choon Ghee, 37, prayed for her daughter Chew Tze Honng, 12, to get 7As in her UPSR.

One crowd-puller during the celebration at Jalan Datuk Keramat was the Ivory Properties Group Berhad’s thaneer panthal stall that saw a long queue of people waiting patiently for free vegetarian food.

The group’s staff were seen busy packing food for more than 2,000 people at the IvoryCares refreshment stall. Ivorycares is the charitable arm of the group.

Ivorycares vice president Ann Tan said it was the sixth year that caring employees contributed their time to serve food and drinks to devotees as well as tourists.

“We have also stacked up 1,008 coconuts on the road for devotees and our employees to smash,” she said yesterday.

A lion dance troupe greeted the cha-riot upon its arrival at the colourful stall. There was also a kolattam per- formance at the stall to entertain the crowd.

Volunteers at the stall also distributed mandarin oranges to devotees to quench their thirst under the hot sun.

The group’s top management officers and employees also took a break from their work to smash coconuts.

Among them were group chairman and group chief executive officer Datuk Low Eng Hock, executive directors Ron Loh, Murly Manokharan, Lim Hock Siu and Dr Asairinachan Kunjamboo along with the company’s business partner Datuk Gillian Teh.

Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik also joined in the celebration.

Earlier, the 117-year-old silver chariot left the Kovil Veedu (temple house) in Penang Street at about 6.40am to make its way to the Nattukotai Chettiar Temple on Waterfall Road.

The silver chariot pulled by two white bulls and with devotional songs blasting from speakers moved along Penang Street, Chulia Street, Chulia Street Ghaut, Victoria Street, Prangin Street Ghout, C.Y. Choy Street, Magazine Road, Datuk Keramat Road, Irving Road, Jalan Utama and ended at Jalan Kebun Bunga at night. [News link]

Posted by admin on February 7, 2012 under Tourism Event.