FESTIVAL
By Wilson Tan
The Hindus, have deep spiritual significance and encourages their propagation. This section discovers the Cultural Heritage of the festivals celebrated by the Indian community, and also their contributions to the world and the Life, Festivals and Philosophy of Indian people.
Festivals are celebrated within the sacred ground of the temple or within the comfort of the community houses. Festivals are a joyous occasion to commemorate a significant event and is celebrated with the presence of loved ones.
INTRODUCTION
Focusing on the festivals celebrated by the Indian community here in Malaysia, this page would start of with one of the biggest -
Deepavali : The festival of lights
What is Deepavali?
To make it precise, Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated every year on the Hindu month of Kartik which falls around October or November. It is celebrated by Indians of Hindu faith in Malaysia. The festival signifies the triumph of good over evil. Deepavali is a four day celebration, even though in Malaysia only one day is marked as a public holiday to celebrate this festival.
In Malaysia, it is celebrated as the day the evil Narakasura was slain by Lord Krishna. Of course, there is the inevitable shopping and work to be done that requires everything to be new and clean, from curtains to clothes for family members. Normally on Deepavali eve, Padayai or offerings and prayers are made to ancestors and deceased family members.
After this ceremony, the women are busy in the kitchen while the rest of the family do the house by hanging new curtains, placing new settee covers and the like to welcome Laxmi, the goddess of prosperity.
Why Deepavali? What are the significance?
The first day of Deepavali commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Naraka.
On the second day of Deepavali, Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagara (Ocean of Milk).
The third day of Deepavali marks the day of the victory of the god Vishnu over the daemon king Bali.
The fourth day or the last day of the festival, is when the God of Death Yama had feasted with his sister Yami. It is believed that during the feast, Yami placed an auspicious mark on his forehead known as the tilak.
In other cultures with more significant population of Indians who came mostly from North India, the festival lasts for five days and it is known as “Diwali”. However, both festivals are very similar and important for Indians no matter if they come from southern or northern part of India. It’s India’s best-known festival.
All major Hindu temples, such as Sri Mahamariamman in Chinatown and Sri Kandaswamy Kovil in Brickfields, are full of various entertainments and activities. You must visit these places of worship to witness the hustle and bustle that go on in the vicinity of the temples as they get ready for Deepavali.
Next I would like to talk about the festival which is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Murugan
Thaipusam : The "vel"
What is Thaipusam?
To understand, Thaipusam signifies the day the Hindu Goddess Parvati bestowed upon her son, Lord Subramaniam (also known as Lord Muruga), the “vel” or lance to destroy the evil demon, Soorapadam.
The lance denotes spiritual insight, the ability to differentiate right from wrong, righteousness and steadfastness.
When is Thaipusam?
Hindus of Malaysia celebrate Thaipusam annually on the tenth month of the Hindu Calendar, the month of Thai.
It coincides with the full moon at the end of January and beginning of February. Thaipusam is made up of two words, 'Thai' is the name of the Hindu month which falls between January 15 to February 15 and 'Pusam' refers to the name of the star that is the brightest during the period of this festival.
The best way to experience the festival is to go out to Batu Caves
How is Thaipusam celebrated?
Before the event, Hindus prepare themselves by fasting, praying and observing austerities and in KL, it culminates in a three-day festival. On the eve of Thaipusam, a 5-tonne silver chariot bearing Lord Subramaniam’s image leaves the Sri Mahamariaman Temple at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in Chinatown on its way to Batu Caves.
The 8-hour journey of the chariot takes it through KL and covers nearly 15 kilometres. The procession that starts as early as 3.30am in the morning has several thousand devotees, some breaking coconuts and offering prayers at various stops made by the chariot.
Brief Information on Kavadi
Types of Kavadi
There are four types of kavadi and are as follows:
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Idumban Kavadi: Pots filled with milk and suspended on rods and carried on the shoulder
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Mayil Kavadi: Similar to Idumban kavadi except that it is decorated with peacock feathers
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Pal Kavadi: Metal pot filled with milk and carried on one side of the shoulder only
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Pushpa Kavadi: Pot filled with milk and carried on the head
Up third I would like to talk about the first day of the Tamil New Year.
Puthandu : The Tamil New Year
What is Puthandu?
To understand, Tamil New Year is also known as Varusha pirappu and is observed on first day of Tamil month Chithirai.
In Tamil Nadu when Sankranthi takes place after sunrise and before sunset the year begins on the same day. If Sankranthi takes place after sunset then the year begins on the following day.
In India Tamil new year is celebrated in Tamilnadu and Puduccheri. The Tamil population in Srilanka, Malaysia, Singapore and Mauritius also celebrate it in a grand manner.
On this new year day Tamil people greet each other by saying “Iniya Tamizh Puthaandu Nalvazhthukkal”.
What are the significance on this special day?
With greetings of puthandu valthukal (happy new year) most Tamils visit their elders and relatives, and savour vegetarian meals on the day.
For the Tamil people, Puthandu carries great significance and is observed with prayers throughout the day.
The celebration is a modest and sweet affair as many anticipate sweet returns throughout the year.
They take the extra effort to clean the house, adorn new clothes and have an elaborate prayer with family before settling for the sumptuous vegetarian meal.
The highlight of the new year celebration is, however, the reading of the panjangam (Tamil almanac), said Malaysia Hindu Sangam vice-president Dr Rupa Saminathan.
She explained that the temples would read out the panjangam according to the various zodiacs to give a general forecast to individuals on what to expect for the new year.
As a conclusion to the four festival that celebrated widely in malaysia, I would like to explain about Ponggal
Thai Ponggal : The Tamil Thanksgiving Harvest Festival
What is Thai Ponggal?
Pongal is a Hindu festival which is observed by people of Tamil Nadu.
Pongal is a four days festival and the most important day of Pongal is known as Thai Pongal.
Thai Pongal which is the second day of the four days festivity is also celebrated as Sankranti. The same day is observed as Makar Sankranti in North Indian states when people take holy dip in river Ganges.
The day before Thai Pongal is known as Bogi Pandigai. On this day people clean their homes and light bonfire to discard unused items. In Punjab the same day is celebrated as Lohri by Sikh community.
The meaning of Thai Ponggal is?
Pongal, literally means "boiling over" is celebrated by Tamils all over the world as a Thanksgiving for a good harvest, and not just in India
The main celebration is to let the rice boil over with milk in a clay pot (see photo). This will imply future fortune for the family.
The Celebration
A few days or even weeks before Pongal day, Malaysian housewives will be busy shopping for Pongal’s prayer items, spices and sweets to cook as offerings to deities.
Clay pots, milk, ghee, cashew nuts, raisins, brown sugar, jasmine flower buds, and stalks of sugarcane are among the popular items on their shopping list. New clothes are not compulsory, but are in the list anyhow.
Hence, places like ‘Little India’ in Masjid India, Jalan Tun Sambantan and Sentul, in Kuala Lumpur, will be the busiest. As in any festivals, the day before the celebration, the shopping will reach its peak and traffic will be at the worst level.
