I AM a volunteer who helped out at the temple during Thaipusam and a devotee who has been participating in this festival for the past 25 years ("Cops arrest three for scuffle during Thaipusam festival" and "Netizens question ban on playing of music at festival"; both published yesterday).
Instruments augment the feeling of devotion during this auspicious day, for both the devotees following the kavadi and the kavadi carrier. It is a very long distance to walk from the Perumal temple in Serangoon Road to the Murugan temple in Tank Road. The singing, with cymbals, drums and horns, does alleviate the weariness, and elevates the spirit of the participant, his family and friends.
The route of the procession is mostly through the commercial shophouses of Serangoon Road and our civic district. It also adds to the festive occasion, which draws a huge interest from local as well as foreign residents.
Perhaps, it is time to reconsider the ban on musical instruments for this once-a-year, religious festival.
And may I dare say, we declare a holiday for Thaipusam, as it was in the earlier days of this nation? It would be a fitting tribute to our multi-ethnicity during celebrations to mark our 50th year of independence.
Chandra Das
Instruments augment the feeling of devotion during this auspicious day, for both the devotees following the kavadi and the kavadi carrier. It is a very long distance to walk from the Perumal temple in Serangoon Road to the Murugan temple in Tank Road. The singing, with cymbals, drums and horns, does alleviate the weariness, and elevates the spirit of the participant, his family and friends.
The route of the procession is mostly through the commercial shophouses of Serangoon Road and our civic district. It also adds to the festive occasion, which draws a huge interest from local as well as foreign residents.
Perhaps, it is time to reconsider the ban on musical instruments for this once-a-year, religious festival.
And may I dare say, we declare a holiday for Thaipusam, as it was in the earlier days of this nation? It would be a fitting tribute to our multi-ethnicity during celebrations to mark our 50th year of independence.
Chandra Das
