As Thaipusam is right around the corner, many devotees and temples have been conducting important rituals and processions to observe the religious festival. On January 2nd, the Penang Nagarathar Sivan Temple (PNST) successfully organised their Sri Maha Mariamman chariot procession from Kovil Veedu in 138 Penang Street to Nagarathar Sivan Temple in Dato Kramat Road. This is the 127th year since this Hindu ritual began, marking a historic milestone of the Hindu religious presence in Malaysia.
Thaipusam in Penang is commonly celebrated at the Thanneermalai Temple by Hindu devotees. It also must be mentioned here that some local Chinese residents of the island also partake in this religious observance, which is predominantly followed by Tamil Hindus. The chariot procession’s long-standing history on the island expresses volumes of how the ritual has been preserved and protected by the Hindu population in Malaysia.
Thaipusam is believed by many Tamil Hindus to be an incredibly important and intrinsic part of their identity, culture, and religious expression. Every year, thousands of Malaysian Hindu devotees and onlookers come to major temples such as Batu Caves, Thanneermalai Temple, and Ipoh Kallumalai Murugan Temple to witness and participate in this religious observance meant to revere the Hindu deity, Murugan.
Source: RTM TV TamilSeithi
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