GEORGE TOWN: Following a spat with the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) over clashing Thaipusam processions, the Nattukottai Chettiars Temple Trustees have decided to run their 123-year-old Silver Chariot on Feb 8 at 6.30am.
Its managing trustee M. Renganathan said the decision was reached in a meeting among trustees after taking into account the best interests of all devotees, and in continuance of the traditions set by the silver chariot in Penang.
“As per the permit issued by the authorities, the Silver Chariot will leave Kovil Veedu in Lebuh Penang at 6.30am on Feb 8, and travel through the customary route to Jalan Kebun Bunga.
“The Silver Chariot procession will start with a flag-bearer cart, some 80 peacock-feathered kavadi bearers, a coconut-breaking cart for pooja, devotees breaking coconuts after seeing the Lord Muruga idol in the Silver Chariot, the Silver Chariot drawn by two bulls and a lorry with chariot accessories, and pooja or prayer items,’ Renganathan said.
The Chettiars’ annual Thaipusam chariot procession here was facing a potential hiccup, after the PHEB announced that it would start a Golden Chariot procession.
The Chettiars and the PHEB have been at loggerheads ever since, with the two bodies levelling various accusation at each other.
The two bodies finally met with police and agreed to run the chariots on Feb 8, merely 90 minutes apart.
However, the Chettiars then announced that it would hold its procession on Feb 7 at 11pm, instead of Feb 8 at 6.30am, as set initially.
PHEB chairman Dr. P. Ramasamy had responded furiously to the change, vowing that the Golden Chariot procession would also depart on Feb 7 at 9pm, to match the Silver Chariot’s procession time.
Renganathan said the chariot procession will be a single procession with a separate police team providing security, as assured to them in a meeting with police.
“We have requested the police to help ensure the two chariot processions strictly adhere to the distance and time gap between them (of two hours), as discussed, allowing all devotees to carry out their prayers peacefully.
“Due to the two chariot processions, one after the other on the same route to Jalan Kebun Bunga, we have requested that police provide additional security to ensure that the processions are peaceful and orderly,” he said.
Renganathan said they have also requested a separate police security team for the return journey of the silver procession, which will leave the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga on Feb 10 to Lebuh Penang.
He also appealed to devotees to fully support the ‘traditional’ Silver Chariot procession as it embarks on its 160th journey, comprising 123 years of silver and 37 years of wooden.