KUCHING: It’s Thaipusam today.
In pre-Japanese time, the festival started at the foothills of Mount Matang.
Devotees carried their ‘kavadis’ (burdens) up the hill to a temple at the top after a dip in the river.
Later when most of the Hindu community had moved to Kuching, the festival was held at the Satok Bridge.
This time the devotees took a dip in the Sarawak River, and then carried their ‘kavadis’ to the Sri Srinivasagar Kaliammman Temple at Jalan Ban Hock.
Sarawak Indian Women Association (SIWA) founder Penghulu Lucy Lingam told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday that in recent times due to the advice of the river authorities, the starting point for the rituals has been moved to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (SMMT) at Rock Road.
“Amongst Hindus worldwide, this festival is a time of penances where after a month of fast, devotees will carry a ‘kavadi’ for a predetermined distance to the shrine of Lord Murugan. It is where the offerings of the ‘kavadi’ is offered to Lord Muruga.
“The significance of Thaipussam is the very opportunity for ‘penance’ to be paid in return for the divine intervention in case of sickness and disease.
“Devotees usually pray to Lord Muruga for help with aliments and sicknesses that had befallen them or a family member,” she said.
Lucy added that for this year’s celebration, it will be held the same place; devotees will gather at SMMT and after blessings have been done, the ‘kavadis’ will begin their march to the temple at Jalan Ban Hock where their offerings will be made to the shrine of Lord Muruga.
She said her prayer to Lord Muruga for this year’s Thaipussam will be to help mankind deal with the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
The origins of Thaipusam varies through different versions or stories, and amongst the popular ones is the story where Lord Murugan was upset and withdrew himself from the world to become a hermit in a cave.
As a result of his action, famine and disease spread throughout earth, uncontrolled and unrivalled, causing death and misery to mankind.
Desperate to stop this widespread of plague, mankind asked Lord Shiva to intervene and coax his son Lord Muruga out of his cave.
This was when Goddess Parvathi presented Lord Muruga with the mighty ‘Vel’ and used the powerful weapon to destroy the evil that was besieging earth and mankind.
In reverence to Lord Murugan, mankind promised him that on this day in the month of ‘Thai’, a celebration will be held in his name and all shall thank him for his service to humanity by serving him milk and mangoes (his favorite fruit) as offerings.
During the festival, participants wear yellow and orange (colours significant to Lord Murugan) while they march from Sri Maha Mariamman Temple at Batu Lintang to Sri Srinivasagar Kaliammman Temple at Jalan Banhock, chanting and drumming during the procession.
The festival is open to the public to view. Tourists are allowed to take photos and follow the procession, but are strongly advised not to get in the way of actual worshippers who are there for religious and personal reasons.
It is understood that many participants have been preparing themselves for 48 days, and fasting for at least 24 hours prior to the festival.
