Government’s Decision to Halt and Allow Thaipusam Celebration Induces Multiple Opinions

Thaipusam is not merely a celebration.
It is more to part of a culture symbolyzing a big part of our history, culture, and heritage.
It’s been celebrated worldwide adjusted to their current residing county at this era. I don’t agree with the cancellation of the festival. Their thoughts to cancel the festival is too timid as they can only cancel the celebration of the festival alone.
One cannot take away the festival from us just by stopping the celebration.

But also, I do not agree with gathering the crowd in the name of God and the festival only to celebrate, with added commercial agendas by putting a member of the community’s health at stake. We are already in a small number in the population, we cannot afford to lose numbers to this pandemic more. It’s best to stay home and celebrate, with the rituals and vows being done in the praying altar itself, this is to protect self and also others too.

P.Navindran

This also brought out a different opinion on the other hand.

Chariot On!
This to be opposed. Hereby, Thaipusam is a ritual and not a celebration. A ritual has to be done for Lord Muruga as on this auspicious day, chariot leaving from one temple to another has been practiced all over the century.

If chariot procession is allowed to Batu Caves Devastanam (temple), then we should be happy with the decision by government authorities in respecting our culture. Every state can have a request and main temple shall make the procession with less than 10 committee members of the temple.

I strongly agree with the chariot procession as per ritual and do not agree to a huge gathering or cancellation of Thaipusam. For a betterment of everyone’s health, lets not make large crowd but lets pray from where we are and I would like to request for a live feed so that we as devotees can watch chariot procession virtual.

– P.Manurachna

The article above is solely opinions of two different individuals and does not represent The Hindu Press.
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