Chittirai Pournami- Hindu Festival

Every year, at this time of the year, the town gets together, or rather, the Hindus come together. Some to pray, vow or celebrate, some to reconnect with families and friends and some just to enjoy the whole show.

You see children dolled up, ladies primed up in their best silk sarees and gold jewelleries, mostly having married away out of town, now is the time to come back and catch up..and compare themselves to each other and feel good about it if they think they have done better than the rest. The men meanwhile group together and engage in various talks from work to politics but you can see they too do it, which guy has done it or who is more successful than who. Big cars appear, latest fashions.. it's rather hypocritical you think, so is society.

You would think that they are there solely for the prayers and paying homage to the resident deity of nearly a century of their hometown, Lord Sri Subramaniam, but there are various other agendas. Like the temple heads roping in politicians into the scene, who end up propagating their parties right in the middle of the temple when it was meant to be a highly religion, if not spiritual experience. You dont really see anyone thanking the Lord, but instead it's about who has done what for the temple and deserves to be accoladed. Ironic. The very essence taught by the religion is abandoned in a moment of self importance.

Sigh. Anyway, this is also the time the Lord decides to visit each household. So at night, the silver chariot makes it round. From Tasek to town centre. It is normally 1am before they get to Kg Baru. Nevertheless.. it is a sight to behold..