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CITY OF GEORGE: Aside from the large and colorful structures worn by kavadi bearers during the Thaipusam festival, another significant feature of these worshipers were the body piercings, especially with spikes or vel lances, symbolizing the burdens they carried.
However, 2021 is an unprecedented year in which the Thaipusam celebration in Penang has been canceled and devotees are unable to visit temples to make their prayers due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Both the state and federal governments have urged all devotees to strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) to curb the spread of Covid-19 and urged them to say their prayers at home.
This has put the kavadi bearer R. Karunaji in an unusual place, as he had been preparing to purge himself mentally and physically for almost three months solely for this annual tradition.
“For the last 55 years celebrating Thaipusam as a kavadi carrier, this is the first time I have prayed at home, and without wearing my kavadi or wearing piercings,” he told Bernama when he met at his home in Lorong Macalister here today. .
But despite all the odds, Karunaji said the most important thing is that the devotees are committed to fulfilling their vows to the Hindu god of war, Lord Murugan.
“We will remain committed to our devotion to our Lord Murugan and to be cleansed from our sins, but at the same time, we also want to follow the guidelines established by the government to ensure our health and safety,” he said.
Karunaji, who is also a kavadi maker, said he used to make his vows at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple on Queen Street and walked about 10 km uphill to the Penang hill temple while carrying his self-made kavadi.
He also said that after fulfilling his vow, he would usually serve free meals to those in need.
“We used to serve up to 5,000 people with free meals, but we can’t do that much this year due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the pandemic.
“This year, we prepare the free meals two or three days before Thaipusam and distribute them to people on the street,” he said while expressing his hope that the pandemic could end soon so that he could revive the tradition of bringing his kavadi to the temple. during Thaipusam. –Called
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