2014 Madurai Meenakshi Chithirai Thiruvizha

The year 2014 is drawing to its end in couple of days. I have not been writing this blog for more than 10 months now. A change in department and portfolio have kept me very busy, thus the long absence.

2014 have been rather kind and exciting. For the year end sharing, I present to you our journey to the Madurai city for its annual Chithirai Thiruvizha that attracts hundreds of thousands from around the world.

Thiruvizha in Madurai has to be the biggest I've seen in my life. The Meenakshi Thirukalyanam at Madurai Meenakshi Temple is an awesome event that everyone should at least attend once in their lifetime. This is a major annual festival celebrated during the twelve days Chithirai Brahmotsavam Festival on the Tamil month of Chithirai (April – May).

This year, we are blessed to be able to join the massive annathanam that is served by the Madurai people, lead by our respected Mr. Vivekanandar, assisted by his son Mr. Harimanikanda and hundreds of volunteers.

The annathanam serves dinner for 10,000 devotees and followed by lunch for more than 60,000 people. Its a massive operation, funded, managed and executed by the people of Madurai for the devotees.

I will let the following pictures to tell the full story. Enjoy, and if possible try to join in once. We will definitely return.

Magnificent Madurai Meenakshi Temple

The agenda

I see roofs, I climbs!

Annathanam Venue

Explaining the event

Donations pouring in

The whole community comes together!

  

Part of the preparations:

  

  

Super cool bonda tata!

The actions seen here are actually performed, not just posing. It was back breaking for all

 

  

Police Akkas for our protection.

The crowd gathers.

 Briefing by Hari anna.

 The crowd gathers

 Serving 10,000 is not easy

He's not well, but he didn't miss the opportunity

 

The team

Madurai Simmakal Thata coolie padai!

Hijacking

Rich Thata!

Terror in Thaipusam - தகராறு இல்லாத தைபூசம் எப்பொழுது?

WARNING : VIDEO LINK CONTAINS GORY IMAGES OF A MAN SLASHED MULTIPLE TIMES, VIEWER DISCRETION NEEDED.

One of the biggest RELIGIOUS festival in Malaysia is over last week. As usual, there are simple kavadis (image above), gempak kavadis, wayang kavadis (image below), food, festival & fights, adding colour the event.

And just as in previous years, there must be gang fights, is possible murder of Indian youth by our very own Indian youth. This is the most unique part of our infamous Thaipusam. People from other religion are watching us in awe or in disgust. On one side we are gathering in large numbers (in tunes of hundreds of thousands) to worship the Lord Murugan and to pay one's penance, on another ugly side, we see our youth’s indulgence in (cheap) alcohol, dramatized kavadis, gang fights and murders.

(2013)

Sometimes we get into frantic fit when people complain about our religious celebration, but we seem to keep quiet on these satanic activities at the very place we supposed to be pure and peaceful. There are so many articles and blogs about Thaipusam and its bad image, but what makes us wonder is why they don’t seem to reduce as years goes by?

Every year, there are fantastically reported gang fights and murders during Thaipusam, are we proud of this nonsense? Do you hear of any gang fights or disturbance in the following events?

• Maulidur Rasul March by Muslims
• St. Anne Festival by Christians
• Wesak Day Procession by Buddhist

These are events which attracts thousands of worshippers from around the country, but without any incidence of violence. But we can’t have 1 Thaipusam without TAGARARU?

2012 - Policeman murdered
2013 - Gang fight & slashing
2014 - Gang fight & murder - news video

Disgraceful!