By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SHAH ALAM, Jan 17 — The Hindu community are urged to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) set in conjunction with the Thaipusam festival for the safety and health of all parties.
Selangor Non-Islamic Affairs Standing Committee co-chairman, V Ganabatirau said the move was important to prevent the spread of the pandemic when celebrating the festival, especially for children and the elderly.
“Despite being celebrated under strict SOP conditions, permission is given for the Hindu community to fulfil their vows and prayers.
“Therefore, I call on the Hindu community to purify themselves spiritually and not to oppose what the government has set so that all good intentions can be implemented,” he told SelangorKini.
On Wednesday, Minister of National Unity Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique announced that only the ‘paal koodam’ procession of carrying milk pots, prayer activities and chariot processions will be allowed during the Thaipusam festival this time, with the ‘kavadi’ ceremony still not allowed in the effort to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The SOP set for the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves stated that there will be no more than 6,000 people each day. Each 30-minute prayer session is followed by a sanitisation process, with the total number of people for each session in the temple not exceeding 500.
The government also said that temporary stalls for promotions or sales inside or outside the temple area are also not allowed.
