Friday January 25, 2013
Barbers having a busy time
By LOSHANA K SHAGAR
loshana@thestar.com.my
GOMBAK: Barbers at the Batu Caves temple complex are having a busy time shaving the heads of devotees who have arrived here to honour their vows to Lord Murugan for Thaipusam.
At the riverbank opposite the temple complex, a group of barbers stood behind a row of chairs, attending to the devotees before they began their prayers.
“I started work here two days ago and ever since then, I have attended to over 100 customers. I am hoping to pass the 300 customers mark by the end of the festival,” said barber N. Raman, who works at a shop nearby.
Another barber S. Subramani said that even though Thaipusam was only on Sunday, people were already coming to fulfil their vows.
“Maybe they wish to avoid the massive crowd on the day itself. We are expecting busier days in the run-up to Thaipusam,” he said.
Good business: Barbers attending to devotees at the riverbank near the Batu Caves temple complex. Thaipusam is celebrated to honour the birthday of Lord Murugan and Hindu devotees fulfil their vows by carrying kavadi and palkudam (milk pots) up 272 steps to the Temple Cave.
Tens of thousands turned up at the temple complex yesterday to honour their vows, while stalls were already busy selling pooja (prayer) necessities, sweetmeats and other items.
Among the many devotees who had their heads shaved were Syabas pump operator V. Sundaraj and his five children.
“We have been doing this for years and my children always join me as we like to do things together as a family,” he said.
Related Story:
Thaipusam isn't just about hooks or music - it's a journey of faith
- Berapit rep assaulted after advising woman not to conduct open burning
- Penang freak storm: Video clip of lightning arrester collapse uploaded on YouTube
- No brotherly love - man attacked and robbed by his twin
- Black 505 rally supporters stage another flash mob in KL
- Subramaniam: Health Ministry to set up operation rooms where API exceeds 200
- Penang freak storm: Police complete probe, no human remains found in car wreckage
- Delays in KLIA2 opening affecting AirAsia's expansion plans, says CEO
- Open sale of sex stimulants in Sabah worries Kiulu rep Bangkuai
- Seven out of 12 Opposition reps in Sabah want Lajim as chief
- Robbery at sea of cargo ship being investigated, unsure if pirates involved, say police
- Fire and Rescue Department: 14 areas highly susceptible to forest fires identified
- Judicial Review application filed to declare appointment of ministers unconstitutional
- Lock-up deaths: Permanent coroner's court for each state to deal with deaths in custody, says Shukri
- Want a gun? Just print it out
- Lock-up deaths: Dharmendran's son will never be able to celebrate Father's Day again, says mother
- Kulim suspended on Thursday for corporate announcement
- Petronas Dagangan eyes regional airports to expand jet fuel biz
- KLCI ends in the red, BAT, UMW down (Update)
- Gloom lifted from MRCB Southern Link as ratings upgraded
- Malaysia's May inflation rate up 1.8% on-year
- Nazir: Bank of Commerce talks to conclude shortly
- Japan's exports pick up pace, give economy momentum
- Asia business sentiment rises in second quarter, global growth risk still dominates
- Moody's: Outlook on China's life insurance industry stable
- AIA and Public Bank offer new insurance plans
- Tambun Indah plans RM200m capex to expand landbank
- Tune Ins sees healthy growth as air travel, tourism pick up
- Nazir Razak: Rising likelihood of major reversal of hot money out from Asia
- Blue chips edge higher in volatile trade (Update)
- Eversendai tendering for RM8b of projects
- Turkey's 'silent man' vigils go on as protests fizzle out
- French floods claim first victim, Lourdes remains closed
- Thousands evacuated after blasts at Russian arms depot
- Bieber off hook after car hits photographer
- Mexico arrests man on FBI's top 10 Most Wanted list
- Disabled woman, US child held captive with snakes
- World's largest all-solar-powered boat shines in NYC
- Samoan airline introduces 'XL' class
- West Africa has world's worst piracy rate
- Congolese teacher admits killing elephants for ivory: WWF
- NASA enlists public in hunt for major asteroids
- NBA: Heat beat Spurs to force game seven
- FedEx eyes record win at Wimbledon
- Brazilian Massa looking ahead to team’s revival
- V Shem-Khim Wah face tough opener in Singapore Open
- Springboks’ De Villiers may miss final
- Results worldwide
- Former world junior champ Zulfadli in main draw
- Star Wallaby winger fit to face Lions
- Hesson laments NZ’s failure to grab chance
- Omega Pharma pin Tour hopes on Mark
- Shahidan needs Cabinet nod to hold posts, says Khairy
- Direct flight now to Naypyitaw for Malaysian SEA Games squad
- Aussie Kulacz hopes to repeat 2009 Selangor Masters triumph
- India’s Anirban relying on short putter for success
- Iain steels himself for a good show at Seri Selangor
- Two-year-old makes touching request at her dad’s funeral
- Rush to escape storm proves deadly
- Boy nabbed for buying air rifles
- CCTV to shed light on missing hawker
- Airsoft guns are easily available online
- Mentally disabled man missing since Sunday
- Medium threatens couple with black magic
- New DAP man turns on his party after elections
- Four times as many hotspots in Sumatra now
- Peat fires and the ever-repeating haze
- Inter-Pacific Research values AirAsia X at RM1.66
- Want a gun? Just print it out
- Boy nabbed for buying air rifles
- Nazir Razak: Rising likelihood of major reversal of hot money out from Asia
- Airsoft guns are easily available online
- Talks on the proposed M’sia-Spore Rapid Transit System still going on
- Hong Kong probes HSBC, other banks for alleged misconduct
- EPF being courted by mid-cap companies
- MAHB sets May 2, 2014 as KLIA2 revised opening date
- Two-year-old makes touching request at her dad’s funeral
RSS
