Malaysia's Thaipusam Celebrations may draw a record crowd

Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 3 (ANI): The Thaipusam celebration at the Batu Caves temple of Malaysia may draw a record 1.3 million devotees and visitors this Sunday.

This year the devotees may outnumber last year's one million visitors, who attended the Thaipusam celebration. The Batu Caves temple committee is making all arrangements to cater to the expected massive crowd, The Star online reports.

The committee spent whopping 640,000 Ringgits to improve basic amenities like public toilets and water supply. There will also be more than 600 stalls selling food, drinks, trinkets, clothing and souvenirs.

As for the security arrangements, more than 1,000 policemen will be deployed at the temple grounds and its surrounding area on Sunday.

A new introduction to the celebrations this year would be a magnificent fireworks display on the eve of Thaipusam. The fireworks would be lighted at midnight, followed by a chariot procession.

Temple committee chairman Datuk T. Nadarajah has advised the devotees to not to wear jewellery or carry big amounts of cash, besides appealing them to take public transportation to avoid congestion in the area.

But poor harvests of the coconut in Penang will be a concern for those who were wishing to break coconuts for Thaipusam.

The price of the Mawar B grade coconut, suitable for devotees to smash as an act of fulfilling vows, has increased by 50%.

The price of the coconuts during the Thaipusam is likely to be 1.70 Ringgits to 1.80 Ringgits against last years 1 Ringgit per coconut. (ANI)