The Telugu community gathered at Sri Ramar Temple in Batu Caves, Selangor to join the Ugadi celebration and pray for a prosperous year ahead. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
APRIL this year is auspicious not only for Muslims, who are celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri after a month of fasting, but also for the South Indian and Sikh communities.
On April 9, the Telugu community celebrated their new year, also known as Ugadi.
It marks the beginning of a new lunar calendar year.
Malaysian Telugu Cultural Welfare Association president Datuk Dr Prakash Rao said it was a time for new beginnings, spiritual reflection and family gatherings.
On this day, Telugus start the day early.
“We clean the house, bathe, wear new clothes and perform prayers at home.
“In the evening, we join the community celebrations.
“This year, we had a big celebration at the Sri Ramar Temple in Batu Caves, Selangor, where there were special prayers followed by singing of religious hymns and a sumptuous vegetarian dinner,” he said.
He added that underprivileged children were also invited to join in the celebration.
Tamils and the Malayalees will be celebrating their new year on Sunday in their respective ways.
A vegetarian spread is a must for Malayalees during Vishu celebrations. — Courtesy pic
Malaysia Hindu Sangam president T. Ganesan said the Tamil New Year holds great significance, as the people celebrate the day with great joy and happiness in hopes of prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.
“Religious Tamilians will get sacred water from the temple the day before and use it to bathe the next morning, as it symbolises cleansing of their body and spirit.
“After that they will do pooja at home with offerings such as mangoes, bananas and jackfruit, among other fruits and vegetables.
“They will also place a mirror at the altar to look at their faces while praying.
“Later, everyone is served a vegetarian meal and will seek blessings from elders in their family,” he said.
For the Malayalees, their new year ritual starts with the sighting of ‘vishukani’, an arrangement of auspicious items.
All Malaysia Malayalee Association president Datuk Rajan Menon said the lady of the house would prepare the vishukani and light up an oil lamp at pre-dawn on Vishu.
“Then, she will lead every family member, blindfolded, one by one, to view the items such as grains, coconut, betel leaves, flowers, fruits and golden-hued vegetables, coins and gold, first thing in the morning.
“Mirrors will also be placed to see the reflection of oneself and the auspicious items, as a symbol of prosperity for the new year.
“The family elders then give out ‘VishuKaineetam’ or money packets to the younger ones in the spirit of giving.
“Malayalees wear new clothes, indulge in quality family time with song and dance, and eat a vegetarian feast,” he said.
The Sikh community will be celebrating Vaisakhi on April 14, to commemorate the birth of the Khalsa (meaning pure) order more than three centuries ago.
Malaysian Gurdwaras Council former secretary Pahuman Singh said socially and culturally, it is a harvest festival.
However, he said the Vaisakhi in 1699 was a very important event for the Sikhs.
“It was when the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa order in Anandpur Sahib in India, and introduced a specific initiation ceremony and transformed the Sikh identity.”
All gurdwaras will be a hive of activity on this day.
Tatt Khalsa Diwan Malaysia secretary Hardev Kaur Thalian said it was a time when the entire congregation came in full force to join in prayers.
“There will also be health awareness programmes, as well as activities tailored for women and children,” she said.
