Thousands of visitors celebrate the Thaipusam Festival

By: Rosli Mansor

Perak Police Chief, Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said that this year’s Thaipusam celebration has been very encouraging with safety compliance by the people present and no untoward incident occurring even as 500 policemen were assigned to ensure safety.

According to him, an estimated 25,000 Hindus celebrated the Thaipusam festival at Kallumal Arulmigu Subramania Temple, Gunung Cheroh, Ipoh in a calm and controlled atmosphere since early this morning.

A visitor from France, Juliette Baudot, 24, who was present with her boyfriend Hugo Doucet, 23, expressed excitement at the celebration as it was their first time visiting the country.

“It’s nice to be here because I don’t know more about the history of this festival. In my country, we don’t have all this. I came here as early as 10 in the morning to see how it happens and I like it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the state’s Human Resources, Health and Indian Community Affairs Committee, A. Sivanesan, when met by reporters, said that he had allocated a sum of RM15,000 to the temple management for the cleaning work which would be given to the volunteers involved.