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The Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) and the Trustees of the Nagarather Nattukkottai Chettiars (TNNC) might have some differences, but these should not deter how each other can complement one another during Thaipusam.

It is accepted by both the parties that there will be two chariots - Gold and Silver - during the religious event.

As agreed, the Gold Chariot by the PHEB will start the procession on Feb 8, 2017, at 5am and to be followed by the Silver Chariot of the TNNC at 6.30am on the same day with an interval of one and half hours.

This was agreed in a meeting with the police on Jan 11, 2016 and endorsed in the Penang state Thaipusam Preparatory Committee meeting in January 2019.

It was also agreed in the above meeting attended by numerous government agencies that any attempt to alter the time must be done bilaterally in discussion with the police who will be in-charge of security and public order.

The PHEB might have been critically of the TNNC, but we have said numerous times that we are not against the Chettiar community in the state. In fact, some members of this community especially those who are locally born and citizens have expressed their support for the efforts of the PHEB in commissioning the Golden Chariot.

There are no obstacles for the TNNC to organise their Silver Chariot procession. Whatever help and service by government agencies extended to the official Golden Chariot will be extended to the Silver Chariot.

Thaipusam is a religious function; it is all about the worship and adoration of Lord Murugan. In a more specific sense, it is about how Lord Murugan used his ‘vel’ to defeat the forces of evil. Thaipusam is particularly a religious event popular amongst the Tamils all over the world.

Similarly in Penang, Thaipusam is famous religious event popular amongst the Tamils. It attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. It is estimated more than one million will attend Thaipusam in Penang in 2017.

Thus, in this context, we would like to urge the TNNC to cooperate with PHEB to make Thaipusam a grand religious event. Let us put aside our differences to worship and adore the deeds of Lord Murugan.


MUTHIAH RAMACHANDRAN is executive director of the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB).

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