Author: IANS
Publication: The Times of India
Date: February 1, 2010
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/indians-abroad/17-million-throng-Hindu-shrine-in-Malaysia/articleshow/5522906.cms
Over 1.7 million Hindu devotees on Monday
thronged Lord Subramaniam's temple at the Batu Caves near the national capital
to celebrate the annual Thaipusam festival.
Crowds of devotees and tourists swelled through
the night even as the deity's silver chariot left Batu Caves at 4 p.m. on
Sunday for the Sri Maha Mariamman temple here to mark the end of the festival.
About 10,000 devotees followed the chariot
back on foot, New Straits Times said.
Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam works committee
chief N. Sivakumar said the Thaipusam celebration last year lasted for a week,
and this year the temple management was ready to maintain the carnival atmosphere
beyond Monday if necessary.
Going by the enthusiasm of the festival crowd
this year, it would not be a surprise if the number of visitors to the Batu
Caves temple surpassed two million, he added.
Multi-ethnic Malaysia is home to about 1.9
million Indians who settled here during the British era. A bulk of them are
Tamil Hindus, while there are settlers from other regions and practitioners
of Christianity and Sikhism as well.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak with his wife
and leading members of his cabinet were among the visitors this year. He underscored
the need for accommodating the festivals and citizens of different faiths,
although a majority of Malaysians practice Islam.
