Thaipusam – it’s now a state holiday

Awangku Yusli — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:46:21 +0000

It was an action that was long overdue. The announcement on Sunday by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, to make Thaipusam a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya was really an excellent morale boost to the Tamil community in Malaysia. While it is only a state holiday now (for Johor, Negri Sembilan, Perak, Pulau Pinang, Selangor and now Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya), it surely is the first step towards making it a nationwide one.

Thaipusam is celebrated by the Tamil community on the full moon in the month of Thai, usually in late January or early February, to commemorate the birthday of Lord Murugan (aka Subramaniam) and the occasion of when he was awarded a lance to vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.

Thaipusam is also a time for the Hindu people to show their devotion to the Lord Murugan by offering the “kavadi”, essentially a portable altar carried by the devotee. Piercings of the flesh (skin, tongue and cheek) are also common. For a more detailed description and some photos, please click here.

In the Klang Valley, Thaipusam celebration is centred in Batu Caves, a temple complex north of Kuala Lumpur. It has a new landmark: a 140-foot golden statue of Lord Murugan. There is a cave temple inside the limestone hill behind the statue, accessible by climbing up the stairs, all 272 of them.

I would like to wish a very happy Thaipusam for all my Hindu friends. May all your devotions are good and acceptable in the eyes of the Lord Murugan.

As for me, I’m just going to enjoy the extra holiday catching up on my sleep.

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Photo of Lord Murugan statue – thanks to TV Smith’s Dua Sen.

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Thaipusam – it’s now a state holiday