Gunaraj (front row, in light blue shirt) and Thaipusam Task Force 2024 members holding up signs with slogans to raise awareness about cleanliness during the festival. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
Devotees and family members offering palkudam (milk pots) are urged not to bring items such as flowers and fruits to Batu Caves, Selangor, this Thaipusam.
Sentosa assemblyman Gunaraj George said these prayer items would be offered for free at the second station of the river in Batu Caves during the festival.
“We will provide the rest of the items required so that there will be less waste after the prayers.
“The bulk of waste comes from items discarded after being offered during prayers,” said Gunaraj at a press conference by Thaipusam Task Force 2024 at Malaysia Hindu Sangam headquarters to raise awareness about cleanliness during the festival on Jan 25.
Gunaraj also urged the public to take home any waste if possible, instead of discarding items at Batu Caves.
“With the help of volunteers, we have seen tremendous improvement in waste management at the temple.
“However, we can do much better with cooperation from the public,” he said.
He also encouraged the public to visit the second station of the river in Batu Caves to avoid overcrowding at the first station.
He said people would often discard prayer items by the river and this practice must stop.
He added that there was about one tonne of waste last year from items used for prayers.
Those who wish to give food and drink offerings are also advised to make use of biodegradable packaging.
Gunaraj encouraged the public to take KTM Komuter trains to avoid the hassle of finding parking space.
“There will be no sale of alcohol during Thaipusam and within a 5km radius of Batu Caves.
“Even shops with such licences have been instructed to close during Thaipusam.
“Alcohol from car boots is also not allowed,” he said.
Thaipusam Task Force coordinator Partiban Ramachandran issued a reminder that full-face masks were not allowed to be sold or worn during the festival, in a bid to reduce crime.
“We want people to feel safe celebrating the festival.
“In the past, people would wear full-face masks and disturb others.
“We no longer have this problem since such masks are banned,” he said.
Partiban said volunteers would also patrol dark spots, with their presence helping to reduce the crime rate during the festival.
“For the last five years, there has been no crime recorded during Thaipusam in Sungai Petani, Kedah, and this is possible with the help from the police and also volunteers,” he added.
Clean Thaipusam coordinator T. Sathiya said the group would be expecting to welcome some 400 volunteers this year.
“We first started with just 20 volunteers and expanded over the years.
“Our volunteers help to advocate an environmentally-conscious mindset.
“They would also clean up the place and this year, we will have about 400 waste boxes made of cardboard for the public to discard their rubbish,” he said.
Those interested in becoming volunteers can reach out through the social media page “Clean Thaipusam”.
Present at the press conference were representatives of Malaysia Hindu Sangam and Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandran.
