From Where I am.........Kuala Lumpur: Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur

Were you caught up in a traffic crawl yesterday or even this morning/today? The reason could be road closure and/or traffic diversion to facilitate the procession of the Silver Chariot from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun H.S Lee to Batu Caves. This is in conjunction with Thaipusam, which is tomorrow, February 9.

Kuala Lumpur roads were closed from 10pm yesterday, February 7. The chariot began it's procession from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun H.S Lee, Kuala Lumpur and is expected to arrive in Batu Caves at 2pm on Wednesday, i.e. this afternoon.

The 13 affected roads are Jalan Tun H.S Lee, Jalan Sultan, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Tun Perak, Lebuh Ampang, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Ipoh Batu 15 and Jalan Batu Caves.

If you happen to be around the route, stop to take in the sights. The chariot does stop along the route for devotees to worship as well as for breaking of coconuts. It's quite a site to watch and the Silver Chariot is really a beautiful thing to see, certainly an extraordinary subject for photo-snaps.

The breaking of the coconut, in Hinduism, symbolises the breaking of the ego, and that anyone who wants to be spiritual or divine needs to first get rid of the ego. Devotees break coconuts from one to as many as thousands. In Penang, devotees have been advised to break just one. one will suffice. They have been encouraged to donate the money to charitable causes instead.

The roads will be closed again from 4pm on Feb 10 to 2am on February 11 as the procession returns from Batu Caves to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.

This time, 14 roads will be closed and they are Jalan Batu Caves, Jalan Ipoh Batu 15, Jalan Pekeliling, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Ampang, Lebuh Ampang, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Pudu, Lorong Pudu (roundabout), Jalan Cheng Lock and Jalan Tun H.S. Lee.

Here's the map of the route courtesy of The Star..

If you have read about a fourth staircase being constructed, it was built to ease congestion in Batu Caves.

Devotees carrying paal kudam will use the first staircase and kavadi bearers will use the second staircase.

The third and the fourth staircases are for devotees coming down from the temple,” he said.

Devotees have been advised to make way for kavadi bearers during the festival, and only traditional kavadi would be permitted.