Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Even though many people call for less coconuts breaking and to use the money for other purposes, the demand keeps increasing!
Supplier orders more coconuts for Thaipusam celebration
PENANG: Instead of the usual 70,000 coconuts, wholesaler Joel Jeyachandran is ordering an extra 15,000 in view of the anticipated increase in demand due to the large crowd expected here this Thaipusam.
“I do not want to disappoint last-minute customers,” said the 23-year-old owner of a coconut wholesale and retail shop in Jalan Datuk Keramat here.
“The orders started to come in a month ago and for the past few days, I have even received midnight calls from my customers asking me if I have sufficient supply,” he added.
Penang Hindu Endowment Board commissioner Datuk K. Kumaraendran announced on Jan 14 that between 800,000 and one million devotees were expected to converge on the island for the three-day celebration starting tomorrow.
Joel reassured the public that there would be no shortage of coconuts this year and the price of his coconuts would remain at 80 sen each.
“While some of the smaller shops might increase the price to RM1 and RM1.10 during the celebration, we are maintaining our price,” he said.
His shop is now stocked with about 50,000 coconuts and the remainder should arrive before Tuesday.
“The coconuts are offerings to the deity and we make sure they are top quality,” said Joel.
He added that any extra coconuts could be kept for Jan 24, when the silver chariot bearing Lord Murugan returns from the Nattukotai Chettiar Temple on Waterfall Road.
“From my experience, some devotees might decide at the last minute that they want to break more coconuts on that day, so the extra will come in handy,” he said.
Joel said some of his relatives and friends had offered to help him with the coconut sales during the festival.
“It is an extra busy time, with Thaipusam falling so near Chinese New Year when there is a high demand for our santan (coconut milk) to make cookies and other delicacies,” he added.
