Selangor Journal

Thaipusam: A time to pray for families, loved ones — MB

SHAH ALAM, Jan 28 — The Thaipusam celebration, which usually sees Hindu devotees in a chariot procession of kavadis, is celebrated differently this year due to the reintroduction of the movement control order (MCO) to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari in his Thaipusam address said the new norms would bring more meaning for the devotees.

He said Thaipusam is when the Hindu devotees would carry the kavadi, or a milk pot called ‘paal kudam’, as an act of homage and loyalty to the warrior deity, Lord Murugan, as well as in their hopes of having their prayers fulfilled.

“I have witnessed how grand this celebration by the Hindus from all over Malaysia and the world can be, where people would visit Batu Caves and climb the 272 tiny steps up into the heart of the cave to pay respects to the Lord Murugan which is very significant to the Hindus.

“It is when fathers pray for the safety of the family while mothers pray for their children to succeed in their studies and be given the opportunity of good employment to help out the family.

“It is the same for other religions where parents are also praying for their children to excel in their examinations, which will take place in less than a month from now. Each has their own way of expressing hopes for their children to be successful in life while we as parents hope to give the best we can for them,” he said in a statement today.

Amirudin said as a Muslim believer, he empathises with the difficulties faced by the Hindu community of not being able to fulfil their religious obligations during Thaipusam this year due to the lockdown.

“The celebration enjoins devotees to make sacrifices as well as prayers for the wellbeing of their children and family so that they are safe and protected from harm,” the statement read.

Amirudin had also urged parents to give their fullest support to the children in the best way possible.

“I see how difficult it can be for students in Selangor not to receive assistance from their institutions and the sacrifices made by parents just to ensure their children receive basics such as a tablet or a laptop,” he said.

In wishing luck to the students who will be sitting for their major examinations such as the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) soon, Amirudin described the generation as being the most unique amidst the myriad challenges during the era of such pandemic.

“Nevertheless, all your efforts and hard work will soon bear you excellent results.

“I would, hereby, like to wish a Happy Thaipusam to the Hindu community in Selangor especially, and to all of Malaysians, more specifically to the Tamil community,” he said.

Top Picks

Pandamaran rep distributes over RM30,000 to mosques, suraus for Ramadan activities

Companies open counters to offer jobs to Goodyear staff

MMEA divers involved in Phase Two search for helicopter’s black box