By Aida Aziz
IPOH: Around 500,000 visitors are expected to attend Ipoh over four days starting Wednesday (January 24) until Saturday (January 27) for the celebration of Thaipusam.
Ipoh District Police Chief, ACP Yahaya Hassan, stated that similar to previous years, there will be diversions and road closures to accommodate the festivities, including the chariot procession and kavadi march around Ipoh.
“The Ipoh District Police anticipate the presence of approximately 500,000 visitors during the four-day Thaipusam celebration.
“The main events of the Thaipusam celebration include the chariot procession and kavadi march from Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Sungai Pari, Buntong, to Sri Subramaniar Temple in Gunung Cheroh.
“The chariot procession from Sri Maha Mariamman Temple to Sri Subramaniar Temple will commence on Wednesday at 6 a.m. and is expected to conclude at 12 noon.
“Meanwhile, the return chariot procession from Sri Subramaniar Temple to Sri Maha Mariamman Temple will begin on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and is expected to finish on Saturday at 9 a.m.,” he said.
In connection with that, he mentioned that road diversions and closures would be implemented gradually during the chariot procession, involving the following roads:
Starting from Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Sungai Pari, Buntong, through Jalan Sungai Pari-Jalan Tun Perak.
- Jalan Tun Perak-Jalan Lahat.
- Jalan Lahat-Jalan Perhentian.
- Jalan Lahat-Jalan Sultan Yusof.
- Jalan Sultan Yusof-Jalan Sultan Iskandar.
- Jalan Sultan Idris Shah-Lampu isyarat Jalan Laxamana.
- Jalan Sultan Idris Shah-Lampu isyarat Jalan Raja Musa Aziz.
- Jalan Datuk Onn Jaafar-Jalan Raja Musa Aziz.
- Jalan Raja Musa Aziz-Jalan Dato’ Ahmad Said.
- Jalan Raja Musa Aziz-Bulatan Hospital
Meanwhile, Yahaya added that the kavadi march from Sri Maha Mariamman Temple to Sri Subramaniar Temple will start on Wednesday from 3 p.m. until 12 midnight and on Thursday from 6 a.m. until 12 midnight.
In connection with this, he mentioned that road diversions and closures will be implemented gradually on roads such as Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Lahat, Jalan Sultan Yusof, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, Jalan Dato’ Onn Jaafar, and Jalan Raja Musa Aziz.
“The police advise all road users in Ipoh to plan their journeys and always adhere to traffic police instructions on the roads involved in the staged diversions and closures,” he said.
