IT is illogical for the government to allow the palkudam (milk pot) ritual but not kavadi for Thaipusam tomorrow as the processes for both are almost identical, Pertubuhan Hindu Agamam Ani Malaysia said.

Its spokesman Arun Dorasamy said the last-minute banning of kavadi is unreasonable, as thousands of kavadi bearers have observed a very strict fasting ritual for 48 days and would have spent thousands of ringgits in preparing to carry out their vows.

“We totally understand that our nation is trying to flatten the Covid-19 curve and we are struggling to contain the new variant Omicron. We also understand the importance of standard operating procedure to keep us all safe.

“However, SOP allows palkudam but not kavadi. This is illogical as the ritual processes for both are nearly identical.

“We would like to stress that the kavadi is an essential and unique ritual for Thaipusam,” Arun said.

Arun urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to intervene and allow the kavadi ritual.

“Thaipusam is an empty shell without kavadis,” he added.

Under the SOP for Thaipusam, which falls tomorrow, the government has banned kavadi as well as limited the number of devotees at temples.

Thaipusam is the biggest festival for Hindus after Deepavali.

Apart from Batu Caves, the festival is celebrated on a grand scale in temples in Johor Baru, Ipoh and Penang. – January 17, 2022.