GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s famous week-long Thaipusam festivities will not take place this year following concerns of a Covid-19 spike as the state’s five districts are now red zones.
Every year, about three million people from all over the country and overseas converge on the island to take part in a 7km chariot procession from Little India to Waterfall Road, in a tradition which began almost 150 years ago.
At a press conference today, Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy also urged all devotees to stay home this Jan 28.
“Stay at home. We are all in a red zone. We do not want a Thaipusam Covid-19 cluster. We plead to you to pray at home,” he said.
Ramasamy added that all activities of the three-day festivities, from Jan 27 to 29, will be banned, following advice from the health ministry and the National Security Council (MKN).
These include the processions by the silver and gold chariots, devotees carrying milk pots or kavadis, as well as the breaking of coconuts and shaving of hair.
The two main temples, Nattukottai Chettiar and Hilltop Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani, have also agreed to comply with the state government’s decision and will cease all festivities in light of the Covid-19 situation in the country.
Ramasamy, who is also Penang Hindu Endowments Board chairman, said prayers on Thaipusam day at the respective temples will only be attended by priests and committee members who are bound by health ministry SOPs. He said police would be on standby to enforce the law.
Temples, he said, would continue to be open in the meantime until Jan 26, and entry is subject to strict crowd control and compliance with SOPs.
As of yesterday, Penang’s Covid-19 numbers stood at 4,408 cases, with 1,327 cases recorded in the past 14 days. According to the health ministry, all of Penang is a red zone as all districts have recorded more than 41 cases. - FMT
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