Thaipusam celebration in Kuching this year witnesses many ‘firsts’

KUCHING (Feb 1): This year’s Thaipusam celebration, organised by the Sri Srinivasagar Kaliamman Temple here, witnessed many ‘firsts’.

For most, the Tamil Hindu Thaipusam is a festival to honour Lord Murugan, symbolising the victory of good over evil, devotion, and penance.

But for Kieron Long, an English man of mixed Chinese heritage, his first Thaipusam was experienced through the lens of his Leica SL2 camera.

“One of my good friends, who is of Indian descent, whom I used to play with on the same football team, suggested that I come and attend this event.

“He knows my hobby is photography and that I’ve shot for several photography projects in the past. So, I thought I should come and see one of the popular attractions of Kuching,” he told The Borneo Post ahead of the Thaipusam procession at Satok Bridge here yesterday.

Long admitted he did not know what to expect from this year’s celebration, which gave him the opportunity to treat it as a journey and exploration.

“Typically, I haven’t shot festivals in the past because I knew there would be other photographers, so I wanted to shoot something different from what others were doing—finding my own stories and unique characters in the ‘kampungs’ and city,” he said.

The Borneo Post also sighted a seven year old boy shave his head for the first time as a vow to help him study better, despite tears running down his face.

“He cried because it was painful, and afterwards he felt cold,” explained Surash Kanagaretanan, 54, who shaved his head.

He said shaving the head is a devotional act, a ‘kanikai’ (offering) to Lord Murugan, and a symbol of humility and spiritual cleansing.

“That is why they shave their heads. They can choose to do it here before the procession or at the temple. It’s done so their vow will bring blessings. For very young children, shaving can be a bit difficult, but for those older, it’s much easier,” said Surash.

Meanwhile, another ‘first’ came for 24-year-old Rasiven Iyer, an undergraduate student, who explained the details of using banana leaves as part of the ‘kavadi’ ceremony to reporters.

“The leaves serve as a surface mat to place the ‘paalkudam’, or milk pots, so it does not get dirty from dust on the ground,” he said, while wishing that on this Thaipusam, everyone in Sarawak would continue to uphold peace and harmony in the state.

Over a hundred devotees paraded about 5km, with some carrying elaborately decorated kavadis while others balanced paalkudam on their heads.

They began as early as 7am with the sacred river bathing ceremony at the Satok Riverbank under the Satok Bridge, then paraded through Jalan Kulas, Jalan Satok, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, Jalan Taman Budaya, Jalan Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui, Lorong Park and Jalan Ban Hock before concluding the procession at the Sri Srinivasagar Kaliamman Temple.