It’s been a week since Thaipusam and there are shops which is still open. Been a tiring week because I have been going to Batu Caves from last Thursday. There are so much of experience to be shared on Thaipusam.
Initially I went with my family first on Thursday just to pray and walk around ‘cuci mata-ing’ plus on the same day the chariot from KL Mariamman temple will be arriving at Batu Caves marking the start of Thaipusam. Once finished praying and so on, came back home, rested till evening and got ready to fetch Hanusha to head to Batu Caves…again. Yes I am freak when it comes to Thaipusam, I used to be someone who sleeps in Bt Caves for 2-3 days for no reason. I will go with my friends and hang out there like crazy…well those were the days. Okay coming back to the story.
When I reached Batu Caves few occurrence start running in my mind the moment I walked into the main. First would be Nov 25th. How every Indians got fired by tear gas and water cannon, they were helpless, bullied away by force. Got locked up and there is no where they could run, one memory which will never fade away from my mind. The second incident will be Thaipusam 2008. The year where every Indians in Malaysia boycotted KL Thaipusam echoing to HINDRAF’s voice and arrest of Hindraf-5’s. Last year saw a tremendous decrease in the crowd visiting Bt Caves and everyone was glad that we can actually stay together as one. Sad to say this year, it was not the same. Everything was forgotten, every incident and voices have been unheard. They became the forgotten heroes.
Estimated about 1.4 million people visited Batu Caves this year and hell yeah I have to agree with that. This year Thaipusam, gave me the opportunity to analyze and research few matters. I’ve manage to study the characters of every single person from a kid to an adult, from a beggar to a seller, from a volunteer to a rowdy, from atheist to a priest. Why am I saying this? Well it will help me when I start writing my script for my movie..oops I didn’t say that okay. J So as I was walking around in the killer crowd I started concentrating on every character on each person. It’s fun at times when you look at how an individual can react to a situation. Adding to that we also saw some gimmicks from some dickheads whom in the name of kavadi, they made a mockery. One of the example will be the video on my previous post here. Its suppose to be the man carrying the kavadi, but what happened was, the man was sitting on a wood top and 6 guys carried him. It’s very embarrassing to see people like this. Oh yeah, the classic action would Dasavatharam Kavadi.
You can have a look at this kavadi here. He was lucky enough that I was not there, else I would thrown a stone at him. Nope, it’s not a sin to do this. God didn’t ask us to do all this, I would categorize this as cheap publicity. Yes he made it, he is making headlines all over can it be from blog to Tamil dailies. Proud to be keling! :D
It was me, Hanusha, my sister and her friend was crushed so bad that I could feel my dinner squeezed out from my bladder, damn! I bet this year saw one of the highest number of visitors for Thaipusam. As it was getting dark, we stopped by Rudra Samaj stall for dinner before heading to the big field hoping there will be some show. But to our disappointment, there were some unknown artist singing some old songs which was so boring. I smsed my friend who just released his Kondattam* singles and had a booth, weaved through the crowd but we couldn't find his booth. So I told him that I will come over tomorrow. Rounding and rounding until to a point we don’t know what to do anymore, met Vicky for while and we left Batu Caves.
*if you would like to listen to Kondattam, go to www.myspace.com/dnavigator
Now its Thaipusam day and I got up only around 2 something, lepak at home watching TV. There were no coverage on the event by Astro, I don’t know if they showed any. That night went again to Bt Caves, again we saw massive crowd. They were pushing and moving. I saw a lot of migrants this year and a lot of FRU and police. Perhaps they populated the place more than devotees. This time I manage to meet up Balan and Navigator. Also had the chance to meet K.Annan (director) and Haridass. Nice people indeed. The next day went again to Batu Caves with mum and sister and this time we saw the chariot leaving back to KL Mariamman temple. Suddenly it started raining so heavily till the Perumal was flooded, that’s where we were taking shelter from rain. Me and another 2 guys helped to sweep off the water from the temple. It lasted for almost an hour.
The rain stopped, we started walking and along the way bought some vegetarian burgers. Few points to ponder from this years Thaipusam was, everyone forgot about the boycott part, parking flers making hellova money. One car RM10, you do the math. Adding to that 7 out of 10 shops will be selling vegetarian burger. Some girls dressed to kill and I don’t know why. Some flers just don’t know how not-to-push in the crowd. I heard Penang thaipusam was not so nice, anyone to comment?
Rujjcoomarh.
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