Source: Press Release
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, April 7, 2002: The National Hindu Advisory board will be drafting guidelines on proper religious practices during the annual Thaipusam festival, Malaysia Hindu Sangam president A Vaithilingam stated. He said the Malaysia Hindu Sangam had received numerous complaints that the festival, celebrated during the full moon in the month of Thai in the Hindu calendar, has become commercialized rather than a period of spirituality. About one million people, including tourists, converge at the Sri Subramaniam Temple in Batu Caves, while thousands attend the Thaipusam celebrations in temples nationwide. Vaithilingam said there were complaints of high charges for archana (individual prayer ceremony), the carrying of kavadi and milk pots during the festival in Batu Caves, and calls to cut down the number of stalls and restrict them to selling religious paraphernalia. He said that although Hindu devotees or temples were not obligated to follow the guidelines, he hoped they would carry them out in the interest of the religion. The board comprises 15 members including three Hindu swamis. Vaithilingam said the board had been meeting regularly to discuss the proper ways to conduct prayers in temples, following a uniform Hindu calendar, overcoming the shortage of priests and drawing up the guidelines.