Monday September 24, 2012

In honour of Lord Ganesha

By PRIYA MENON
priya@thestar.com.my
Photo by AHMAD IZZRAFIQ

THE annual Vinayagar Chathurthi Festival was once again celebrated with great pomp and splendour by devotees at the Sri Sakthi Karpaga Vinayagar Temple in Jalan Berhala in Brickfields.

Vinayagar Chaturthi is held to celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesha (Elephant God) and it is an auspicious day to seek his blessings.

Temple president S.K.K. Naidu said prayers were held from 3am followed by a milk procession at 4am. Devotees began flooding the temple as early as 3am to witness the main pooja (prayer) that was conducted at 8am.

Beloved deity: Thousands of devotees turned up to witness the chariot procession and seek blessings from Lord Ganesha.

Since the ceremony involved many rituals, five extra priests from other temples were brought in to help the three resident priests with the work for the day.

“We also served food at noon for about 4,000 people before continuing with the prayers later in the day.

“Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Amar Singh also attended the luncheon,” said Naidu, adding that more than 10,000 came to witness the entire day’s proceedings.

The highlight of the event however was the chariot procession that began at 7pm from the temple. The priests conducted a prayer for Lord Ganesha before devotees hoisted the idol on their backs and placed him on the waiting chariot.

All decked up with lights and flowers, the chariot went out with an array of fireworks and a special traditional dance performance. Those who had pledged to break coconuts for Lord Ganesha did so just before the chariot was pulled away by devotees.

The procession was accompanied by traditional Indian drums Urumi Melam to add more excitement.

This year, the procession route was altered since the Sri Krishna temple in Brickfields has moved to a new location in Jalan Scott. The chariot headed towards Jalan Scott first followed by Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad, Jalan Thambypillai, Jalan Vivekananda, Jalan Tun Samban-than’s Little India before returning to the temple at midnight.

Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin also witnessed the procession in Little India.

Brickfields residents and stakeholders also gave away Indian delicacies along the way to those in the procession.

A variety of stalls selling traditional Indian sweets, idols and other items were set up near the temple and along the route.