Thaipusam 2012 - Penang

This year Thaipusam fell on the 7th February (tuesday). This year was different as my kids and my sister in law and her husband were fasting to carry milk (Chembu) for Lord Muruga. My kids fasted for a week and am proud of them that they strictly followed whatever guideline that were given to them and even went to school while fasting.

This year also we stayed in a different hotel all together as we had to frequent to the temple more often then last year. We booked at the Berjaya Hotel. Checking in to the hotel was fine but we found that there was total mix up by the reservation staff and the front office staff. We did not get what we booked and paid for in advance. We fully paid almost 2 months prior to the date of check in. However in the end we the staff did some adjustments and we kind of accepted as we were really tired from the journey and waiting at the room corridor for quite some time.

In the morning of the Thaipusam, we barely got about an hour of sleep as we were all helping out a friend doing "Annadhanam" at the panthal. Despite being tired and lack of sleep, my children got ready for carrying the milk and fulfilling their vows. All the members of a group gathered behind the Munniswaran Ayya temple as i prepared their milk pots. They all bathed and waited for their turns for me to hand them their milk pots - some on their heads and some carrying the pots.

Everything went well until we reached to the steps leading up to the temple. Massive jam of people on the steps leading up to the temple. When i was at the "Idhaman Ayya" Temple, i realised why the massive jam of people occured. It was because there was only one priest manning the temple and he was slow in putting the "thiruneer" on the devotee's forehead and as such this created a bottleneck jam of people at the temple and also on the steps leading up to the temple.

After about an hour of gradual walk up the steps at last my group arrived at the hill top and waited another half hour or so till finally finishing their vow. Walking down the steps was another feat as it was already morning as the sun was just up as we were hit by the baby sun rays on our faces. Everyone gathered at the side entrance of the temple to wait for everyone to come down. Then we headed back to the hotel for a good nice rest and sleep.

We got up for lunch at about 3pm and then rested for while before heading to the Waterfall Temple to watch the Kavadi's as we usually do so every year. This year we went to our Sisters Stall selling tidbits and sweets and helped her out selling them. It was really fun and my family enjoyed it very much. It was at midnight that we finally left the stall and headed back to the hotel. We had dinner on the way back at the stall area beside the New Bob Centre Building.

The highlight of this years Thaipusam for me was when i carried the "palakku" of Lord Murugan from the temple unto to his chariot. This, for me was a miracle as the responsibility of carrying the "palakku" is not something that is shared by the people whom are allocated to do this service. People whom are given this responsibility usually dont just give away their spot to anyone as this is seen as an honour and also a Lords "seva" (humble service). To carry the Lord on ones shoulder is a great honour for the ones that are truly spiritual and yet for the ignorant - it is a mere fussy job. For me somehow i got the spot truly by blessing.

All in all this was a great year for me as i got to do a Lords service and proud of my kids who fulfilled their vows without any problem. Awaiting for next year .