Breaking one coconut per devotee should be sufficient during Friday's Thaipusam festival, said Mother Mangalam from the Hindu-orientated orphanage home Pure Life Society. Mangalam was responding to the appeal by Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) activist N. Subbarow for devotees not to waste money by breaking thousands of coconuts on the streets to secure divine grace.

However, the appeal has drawn criticism from a Malaysian Hindu Youth Council official. According to Subbarow, the official told the consumer association to "mind its own business".

In addition, in a letter to English-language newspaper The Star today, a reader also took issue with CAP's One Coconut campaign. The writer said that CAP was "insensitive" and its action was an "unacceptable interference in Hindu religious affairs". "It should realise that it has no authority or jurisdiction whatsoever on religious issues," he added.

Subbarow told malaysiakini that the campaign was aimed at preventing wastage as the smashed coconuts would end up in Penang's Jelutong dump site. Instead of wasting money by breaking too many coconuts, he called upon devotees to give the money saved to charity.

Thaipusam is a major Hindu festival celebrated to secure the blessings of Lord Muruga. More than half a million devotees are expected to flock to Batu Caves on Friday to observe the festival. Similar parades will be held in other cities, including Penang. Devotees abstain from non-vegetarian food over a period of about 40 days preceding Thaipusam and fulfill their vows by carrying colourful kavadis, pierce their bodies with sharp ornaments, and sing hymns in praise of Lord Muruga to obtain his blessings.

According to Mangalam, the One Coconut campaign was "a wise appeal". She said the act of breaking coconuts is carried out "to remind devotees that the ego in them has to be broken".

Mangalam added that it is purely a symbolic act. "Once the ego is broken, the inner being becomes pure as symbolised by the kernel, while the coconut water signifies divine grace that is bestowed upon the person."

Letchumanan Ramatha from the Brahma Kumaris Rajayoga said too much emphasis had been given to the existing belief system that devotees missed out on important issues. "It is important for people to experience spirituality and incorporate religious teachings in everyday life rather than getting caught up with breaking coconuts," he said.

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam said its board of spiritual leaders around the country also felt that breaking one coconut per devotee was enough and appealed to the public to act with consideration to cleanliness and the environment.