TUG machine will be used for the first time to help devotees pull a brand new Golden Chariot at the Thaipusam procession in Penang.
Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) chairman Prof P. Ramasamy said the chariot, which is bigger than the previous one, was fully sponsored by a devotee.
Ramasamy, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister II, said they were adopting this mode of transport for the festival as they were against cruelty to animals, like using bulls to pull the chariot.
“However, the bulls can still follow the procession, together with devotees,” he told a press conference at the administration office of TSBD temple this afternoon.
Last year, only devotees pulled the Golden Chariot, which would now be placed at the Waterfall hilltop temple.
The chariot procession will start from the Arulmigu Maha Mariamman Temple, Queen Street at 6.01am on Sunday (Jan 20) to the Thanneemalai Shree Balathandayuthapani Devasthanam (TSBD) Temple in Lorong Waterfall and make its return journey at 6.01pm on Tuesday (Jan 22) .
Also present at the press conference were TSBD temple chairman Datuk R. Subramaniam and PHEB executive director Datuk M. Ramachandran.
Subramanian said this year’s Thaipusam procession would see a bigger crowd of some 1.3 million people, compared to last year of 800,000.
He also advised all devotees and tourists alike to take care of their safety, their children and valuables.
In addition, Subramaniam said they must not waste any sponsored food and must look after the overall cleanliness.
Residents living in the vicinity of Jalan Waterfall are advised to collect their entry pass from today to Saturday (Jan 19).
He added that Jalan Western, Jalan DS Ramanathan and Jalan Air Terjun would be closed to traffic from Jan 20 to midnight of Jan 21.
Subramaniam also revealed that renovation works are ongoing to convert an old hilltop temple to a religious museum.
“The project costing some RM500,000 is expected to complete by July, 2019.”
Story by Danny Ooi
Pix by G. Revati