KUALA LUMPUR: Apart from a mere 10 people no one else will be allowed to accompany the annual Silver Chariot from here to Batu Caves for the start of Thaipusam on Thursday.
Police are also discouraging members of the public whether in groups or individually from observing the movement of the chariot from the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Jalan Tun H. S. Lee here to the Sri Subramaniswamy temple in Batu Caves.
"The movement intended (Silver Chariot's journey) is not to include a joint parade or standing observed by any individuals or groups throughout the route," said Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador.
He said the chariot's journey will take place on Jan 27 from 3am to 6am and it will return to the Sri Maha Mariamman temple from Batu Caves, on Jan 29.
Hamid said throughout the journey and its return, the Silver chariot's movement should adhere to strict standard operating procedures (SOP) put in place.
He said this SOP includes only 10 people comprising five temple committee members and another five people to carry out tasks.
The nation's top cop also said that the Chariot was not allowed to stop at any location throughout its journey to Batu Caves.
"No drums and wind instrument accompaniment as well as any form of music will also allowed to be part of the chariot's journey", Hamid said.
In addition, he said no business shall be allowed to operate along the route of Chariot along its journey route, except that which has received prior permission from the local authority.
"PDRM (Police) remind people to comply with the SOPs to avoid any difficulties or legal action from being taken. We will carry out monitoring and take stern action on any individuals who do not observe these (the conditions attached)," he said in a statement.
The chariot procession, which began in 1983, would normally be accompanied by 10,000 Hindu devotees and takes about 16 hours.
However, this time its journey would be faster and expected to end in about three hours without making a stop at any location.
The temple's committee chairman, Tan Sri R. Nadarajah on Monday said that 10 people who would be accompanying the 7.3-metre high chariot would include the driver, electrical technician, lighting man, a temple priest and five committee members.
The silver chariot ferrying the statues of Lord Murugan and his two wives Dewi Valli and Devi Theivanai would journey from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple will leve the Sri maha mariamman temple after a prayer ceremony.
Nadarajah promised that the SOP set by the National Security Council and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) would be complied with during the journey by the chariot and on the day of celebration.
He urged Hindus not to take part in the procession and not to turn up at the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple on Thaipusam day on January 28 in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thaipusam is a festival celebrated by Hindus worldwide in the month of 'Thai', namely, the 10th month in the Tamil calender to remember the event when Lord Murugan received a holy spear from his mother, Parvati, to eradicate the evil force, Soorapadman, and bring back peace and prosperity to humankind.