Members of the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) and the Trustees of the Nagarather Nattukkottai Chettiars (TNNC) may have some differences, but this should not deter how each other can complement the other during Thaipusam.

It has been accepted by both parties that there will be two chariots – Gold and Silver – during the upcoming religious event.

As agreed, the Gold Chariot by the PHEB will start the procession on February 8 at 5am, to be followed by the Silver Chariot of the TNNC at 6.30am on the same day after an interval of one and a half hours.

This was agreed upon in a meeting with the police on January 11 and endorsed in the Penang State Thaipusam Preparatory Committee meeting.

It was also agreed in the above meeting attended by numerous government agencies that any attempt to alter the time must be done bilaterally in discussion with the police, who will be in-charge of security and public order.

The PHEB might have been critical of the TNNC, but we have said numerous times that we are not against the Chettiar community in the state. In fact, some members of this community especially those who are locally born and citizens have expressed their support of the efforts of the PHEB in commissioning the Golden Chariot.

There is nothing standing in the way of the TNNC to organise their Silver Chariot procession. Whatever help and service by government agencies extended to the official Golden Chariot will be extended to the Silver Chariot as well.

Thaipusam is a religious function; it is all about the worship and adoration of Lord Murugan. In a more specific sense, it is about how Lord Murugan used his “vel” to defeat the forces of evil. Thaipusam particularly, is a religious event popular amongst the Tamils all over the world. Similarly in Penang.

Thaipusam attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. It is estimated that more than one million will attend Thaipusam in Penang this year.

Thus, in this context, we would like to call on the TNNC to cooperate with PHEB to make Thaipusam a grand religious event. Let us put aside our differences to worship and adore the deeds of Lord Murugan.

Muthiah Ramachandran is Executive Director of Penang Hindu Endowment Board.

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