The Mariannam
Procession
Accompanied by the chettiars, on a new noon night, the procession will start
at the Sri Mariannam Temple at Queen Street. The statue of goddess Mariannam
is placed on a wooden horse and drawn by a bullock cart.
There is a ritual slaughtering of a goat at the Muneeswarar Waterfall Temple,
at the junction of Waterfall Road and Gottlieb Road. Afterwards the chettiar
community (excluding those who will bear the kavadi) partake of a meal in
the nearby premises.
Vasakhi
Vasakhi, the Sikh New Year is April
13, however, due to its consonance with lunar calendar, the date could fall
occasionally on April 12, or on April 14. During this time, the 1,430-page
"Guru Granth Sahib" (Sikh Bible) will be read continuously for 48 hours.
The closing ceremony ends with a meal for the congregation. Vasakhi is celebrated
on a moderate scale at the different "gurdwaras", the main one being at the
Diamond Jubilee Sikh Gurdwara in Jalan Gurdwara, Penang.
For the Sikhs, this festival has special
significance. On this dai in 1699, the 10th Guru, Gobind Singh Ji, created
the order of the Khalsa. He gave a distinct uniform to the Sikhs: untrimmed
beard and unshorn hair to be protected by a turban, the five Kakars or symbols
necessary for the strength and unity of the religion and brotherhood, and
the five basic prayers. The Guru ordered the Khalsa to protect the oppressed,
and all followers are one big family. Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the Sikh
religion. Nine other Gurus continued this mission, the last Guru being Gobind
Singh Ji.
 Panguni Uttiram
Varusha
This event is celebrated on the full-moon
day of the Tamil month of Panguni. It is to honour the marriages of Siva
to Shakti and of Lord Subramaniam to Theivani.
Varusha
Pirapu
Celebrated by most Hindus, particularly
by Northern Indians. The Vaishnaivites celebrate it for nine days, at the
Sri Rama Temple at York Road.
Cithirai
Parwam
Most temples carry out fire walking
ceremonies in honour of the Goddess Mariannam. As in the Thaipusam festival,
the kavadi or ceremonial yoke, is carried to Waterfall Hilltop
Temple.
Cheng
Beng
Cheng Beng stretches for a week. During
this period, the Chinese community will visit graves of deceased family members
and ancestors to pay their respects. Graves are weeded and cleaned, joss-paper
is burnt, and offerings are made.
 Birthday of the Goddess
of Mercy
Her birthday falls on the 19th day of the third moon, 6th moon and 9th moon.
That's right, three birthday celebrations in one year!
Sri Rama
Navami
A nine-day festival held by the Brahman
caste to honour the Hindu hero of the Ramayana, Sri Rama.
Birthday of
the Queen of Heaven and Goddess of the
Sea
"Ma Cho Po", is celebrated at her temple on the 8th day of the fourth
moon.
Wesak Day
*
A day to mark the birth of Lord Buddha on the 15th day of the fourth moon.
This is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar. Temples are packed
with devotees during this celebration. A procession of floats, flower and
flag is held at night, commencing at 7.00pm, from the Malaysian Buddhist
Association, 182 Burmah Road.
Double
Five
During China's era of the warring states there was a patriotic Chinese
poet-official, Chu Yuan, who committed suicide because he was exceedingly
grieved by the corruption in the high circles which were running his beloved
country. When Chu Yuan drowned himself
in a river, the people went out in dragon boats and threw rice dumplings
(chung) into the river so that the fish would not devour his corpse. Chu
Yuan's tragic death is commemorated on the Double Five with the dragon boat
festival and the chung festival simultaneously, celebration on the 5th day
of the fifth moon. |
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