My visit to the Penang Waterfall Hilltop Murugan temple for Thaipusam this year ended up being disappointing yet again. The charge for coconut archanai was RM5, the normal price being RM3. Each coconut cost between RM1.80 or at most RM2.

Two betel leaves in half a coconut, four or five pieces of raisins and a small plastic packet filled with ‘vibuthi’ would only cost more or less RM2.50.

Why charge this much and burden the devotees?

Why do we, the devotees, have to pay double for each archanai? The temple chairperson, management and the Penang Hindu Endowment Board should look into this matter and not burden the devotees for their monetary gains.

And what was worse was that the protocol of archanai had not been done properly. They just passed the coconut, which meant that the recital of mantras together with the archanai receipt-holder names was not conducted.

It was just passed to us by a man without poonulle, who had tattoos on his body and also freely went in and out at moolastanam (believed to be the temple priest helper).

If rules are not followed accordingly to the vedas, then devotees and the public must also be allowed to walk in and out of the moolastanam to fulfil our vows.

Besides this, the four-wheel-drive ride up to the temple that had previously been offered to senior citizens and those with medical issues was stopped because it was said to be unsafe. If this is so, then why aren’t the committees and their family members practicing this, too?

I hope the temple chairperson and the Penang Hindu Endowment Board actually take note of these things and act accordingly. Only by involving themselves can they know what is really taking place around them.

Lastly, thank you to Shanmugam (Penang Hindu Sanggam), Thevigan and his police team for having done excellent work and willingly sacrificing their time. A big kudos to the team, and I hope the effort continues. In our eyes, Thaipusam went smoothly because of these men.