A six-day prayer event called Ati Rudra Maha Yagna that originated from India will be held for the first time in Kuala Lumpur next month.
The world’s third Ati Rudra Maha Yagna, considered by followers of religious guru Sathya Sai Baba as the highest form of worship to Lord Shiva, will be held in Batu Caves from Aug 7 to Aug 12.
Sri Subramaniam Swamy temple chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah said this would be the first time that the event had been held outside India.
“We are expecting about 5,000 participants in the six days,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur recently.
Organising chairman Jullius Tan, who is also Persatuan Sathya Sai Nivas chairman, added the ceremony was to promote universal peace through the finding of oneself in meditation, mantras and prayers.
Also present at the press conference was former Malaysia Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam.
The occasion will see 140 priests conducting the chants. There will also be cultural songs and other performances in the evening.
Its Thaipusam, the religious festival to celebrate Lord Muruga!
Like most of the previous year, we planned to visit Batu Caves. We left home at 6.10am and arrived at Bat Caves at around 6.40am. Parking took another few minutes and there traffic jam was after taking the roundabout from Jalan Kuching.
While driving past the entrance (on MRR2), we can see that the crowd was more than last year, since we usually go to Batu Caves early morning around the same time. In fact the stairs were packed with people.
An ugly sight greeted me as I was looking for parking. Few youths and adults were chatting with beer bottles in the hands while waiting near their car.
Parked car on the flyover. The slip road leading to Petronas after Batu Caves was closed.
The stalls were located below the new dedicated ramp which crosses the river and railway track. The ramp was closed to vehicles to allow the kavadi and kudam bearers walk through. If not, the devotees have to take a risky (but shorter) route crossing the railway track.
The venue where Brahma Kumaris and Nestle stalls were usually located was replaced with the cancelled state government’s Fiesta Deepavali banners. Brahma Kumaris stall is now located beneath the ramp.
Did the mudi kanikai at one of the stall below the new ramp, and proceeded to walk back to the temple compound.
Lots of nursing colleges set up booths, providing eye candy for the youths. I saw Winfield, Nirwana (with Putera MIC), MAHSA and MAsterskill (if I’m not mistaken).
We started walking into the temple compound at 7.35am. Compared to last year, there were not ropes to demarcate the lines. So, it was a bit of free flow.
Lots of rubbish around and its not even 8am! All rubbish bins were overloaded.
Police moved in groups of 2,3 and 4. But I don’t think there were 1000 policemen there. There were also RELA and FRU, apart from the St John members and temple volunteers.
Took us 40 minutes from compound entrance till the top of the stairs. The middle lane was allocated for kavadis, while the left lane for people going up. However, since the top was crowded, many people were coming down using left lane, thus making the journey more difficult.
The signboards for Paal Kudam, Archanai, and Kavadi were only found at about 50 metres in the cave. And the paal kudam queue was long! It would have been better if the notices were put up earlier along the cave or even from the compound itself so that the crowd could be segregated earlier.
We prayed for around 30 minutes or so and made our way down. The trip down was slow since the crowd was huge and lots of kavadis were going down the stairs after fulfilling their penance.
Something else that’s make a comeback this time is beggars. I saw a family that looked like foreigners sitting near the cave entrance.
Read the bottom of the stairs at around 9.15am. We spent another 15 minutes taking some shots and watching the kavadis. It was getting hot, and as usual, we didn’t waste time milling around the stalls.
Left Batu caves around 10am, using MRR2 towards Sentul/Gombak. The other side of the highway was jammed. There’s the new DUKE highway along MRR2 that gives you access to Jalan Duta, Jalan Kuching etc (Toll is RM2). Reached Puchong within 40 minutes.
BTW, the management office looks new (and expensive). I wonder if its really necessary. Maybe the money could have been put to better use, like giant LCD display screens, proper signages and more dustbins.
And quite a few banners mentioning Nadarajah’s name in a weird way. It kind of separates him (as the chairman) from the committee. Looks like exercise in self-promotion.
News coverage on Tv2 (Tamil news) and Tv3 (Buletin) showed the visitors quite happy with the improvements done this year. Those interviewed said that it was easier to fulfill their vows.
Read about last year’s Thaipusam article here: 2009.
Kesian! But I don’t think PM Najib was supposed to visit on Sunday afternoon, more than 24 hours after Thaipusam since there’s nothing much but rubbish to see after Thaipusam is over.
Police have ordered the Pakatan Rakyat state government to remove a stage set up at Batu Caves for celebrations on the eve of Thaipusam tomorrow despite prior approval from the authorities.
Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar told The Malaysian Insider he had been informed that this was because Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was scheduled to visit Batu Caves at 9pm tomorrow.
“This is totally unfair, I had met the Gombak Police chief earlier this week at the Selayang Municipal Council and there was no problem.”
Xavier said tomorrow’s celebrations, which starts at 10.30pm, is part of the Selangor Tourism programme which is being hosted by the state government and sponsored by Digi.
“Nobody told us Najib was coming tomorrow and he was only initially supposed to visit on Saturday afternoon.”
The Malaysian Insider is still attempting to contact the Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar for an official comment.
Remember Sampah Masyarakat? They started the trend by helping to clean up Batu Caves after Thaipusam last year. They are planning the same this year, so if you are free on 31st January (Sunday), make a beeline to Batu Caves.
I’m sure by now many are aware about the impending 1Malaysia Carnival at Batu Caves on coming Sunday (9th August 2009).
I first heard about via emails. There was no info on the organisers, but among the agenda was concerts, fireworks display, and visit by PM Najib. Event to start at 4pm till night. The emails urged the Indian community to attend so as to show support to the 1 Malaysia concept.
THE 1Malaysia Batu Caves Carnival will be organised for the first time by Sri Mahamariamman Devasthanam and the Malaysian Hindu Council.
“Malaysians of all races must not wait for Thaipusam to turn Batu Caves into a carnival ground.
“The grounds of Batu Caves should reverberate to the joyful sounds of a carnival more than once a year,” Batu Caves temple committee chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah said.
The three-day event, which will run from Aug 7 to 9, will feature cultural performances representing the three main races in Malaysia as well as other interesting shows.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will grace the event at 4pm on Aug 9.
“Datuk Seri Najib will be the first prime minister to visit Batu Caves during a non-Thaipusam period,” Nada-rajah said at a press conference at the Batu Caves temple office recently.
He added that since the prime minister had introduced the 1Malaysia concept, they wanted to play a part in helping him implement it.
Nadarajah will be handing over a memorandum to Najib during his visit. The contents of the memorandum will be revealed on that day.
“We are expecting more than 10,000 people to attend this carnival.
“We urge the public and not only the Indians to attend this carnival and welcome the prime minister and show their support,” said Nadarajah.
Obviously it will be the first time for Batu Caves because 1Malaysia was just introduced this year!
Looks like its a 3 day event ending on the 9th and all Malaysians are urged to attend. I’m not sure why Batu Caves Committee is getting involved in such things. Maybe as they mentioned, want to make Batu Caves are more lively place and not just visited on Thaipusam day.
The organisers should take this opportunity to educate and create awareness among non-Hindus about our religion, so that common misconceptions (many Gods, eating beef, vegetarianism, reincarnation, karma, wearing vibuthi, etc) are cleared. Perhaps by putting up exhibitions and distributing flyers (say “10 Things You Should Know About Hinduism” in trilingual), they can help foster better relationship between Hindus and non-Hindus. As it is, there are many non-Hindus who don’t know beyond Deepavali (murukku) and Thaipusam (kavadi)!
There are calls to boycott the event due to various reasons related to 1 Malaysia concept and the Devastanam. Some comments are going around in the forums asking community to ignore the event, and questioning the expenses being incurred.
I’m also concerned with the “mystery” memorandum Nadarajah wants to handover. By attending the carnival, would it be construed as supporting the unknown memorandum? I won’t want to support something which is hidden from me without any reason. So I have my reservations.
The organisers are expecting 10,000 people (a conservative number considering Thaipusam will see about 20,000 – 50,000 at any one time), but since there is opposition towards the carnival, not sure how it would turn out. I think the crowd will be there since its a carnival and youths like the fun atmosphere.
Problem with IC or Birth Certificate? Come now to MYSEL office for help. Address: 3rd Floor, Plaza MPK, Klang (near Klang old bus station MYDIN). Contact : 03 33411630 or 016 2269230. Every Saturday from 10am - 2pm.
*****************************************************************************************
Pemuda MIC Hotline for students who did not get a place in IPTA is 03-40431111
*****************************************************************************************
Vacancy for 5 C#.Net developers in Cyberjaya. 1 year contract with option to convert to permanent. This is a 3rd party contract with the client
Experience around 1-4 years typically. Must have good english language skills. Must be Malaysian. Candidates to send CV to ferozeroman@hotmail.com.
CV's to include Current & Expected Salary/Notice Period/phone/email.
Helping Hands by MyIndians.com allows you to directly link to the person who needs help and can personally assist him. The help can be in any form; consultancy and advice, finance, information and even a simple link to a resource. You can ask for help or give help to others.
---------------------------------------
MyIndians.com provide useful info and links to skills training, poverty eradication, scholarships, NGOs, citizenship issues, tamil school development and so on.
---------------------------------------
Graduates can apply for GEMS program initiated by government to improve their chances of securing jobs.
---------------------------------------
DHRRA Malaysia is an NGO that provides community help in terms of counseling, self-empowerment, career guidance, women's aid and so on. Contact Ms Nandhini Ramuloo at 03-78747680 or 012-2737160 to fix an appointment.
---------------------------------------
ERA Consumer is an NGO that deals with consumer and civil society issues..
---------------------------------------
PROGRAM PEMBASMIAN KEMISKINAN BANDAR (PPKB) by Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT) to help the urban poor in terms of house rent, transport, nursery assistance, school kids assistance etc. NGOs encouraged to help identify such families. Read more and view the forms at KPKT website.
---------------------------------------
Malaysian Hindu Sangam together with is conducting a program to identify and register all Hindu temples in Malaysia. So, if you are living near a temple, help them by providing information of the temple. Visit http://www.myhindutemples.com for more details.
---------------------------------------
Tamil Language and Hinduism Classes Available.
---------------------------------------
Families earning maximum RM1500 (living in towns) or RM1000 (living in rural area) can register via eKasih to get financial aid from government.
---------------------------------------
MIC Bureau of Public Services & Complaints,
Bureau of Police Affairs & Rehabilitation and MIC National Youth Chairman contact info ->
click here
---------------------------------------
Public Complaints Bureau / Biro Pengaduan Awam. Complain via 03-8872 5777 or fax 03-88887778/37 or click to visit website
---------------------------------------
Apply for jobs in government sector SPA website
---------------------------------------
Human Resource Ministry's Jobs Malaysia website
---------------------------------------
Apply for entrepreneur loans via Youth Economic Promotion Council website
---------------------------------------
Apply for entrepreneur loans via Tekun and/or YSS
---------------------------------------
Selangor MIC Youth (register for welfare) Chief - Shanker, 012-3836905 or MIC national social bureau head S. Subramaniam at 019-3517474. Alternatively, call Selangor social bureau head A. Sivaraju at 012-3186631 or Selangor Youth secretary D. Kagendran at 019-3521129.
---------------------------------------
| 
Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email 
