This year, the opportunity came. As excited as I were, I was sleepy too – as the initial plan was to go there at 2 in the morning to avoid human traffic.

But it got delayed 2 hours. Lol.

It was still pitched black when we reached there. It wasn’t as body-sticking-jam as I expected. It was a breezy walk with colourful, lightened tents of gigantic pictures/statues of Hindu deities put up by companies on both sides of the Jalan Air Terjun (Waterfall Road).

Before reaching the main temple, we stopped by a temple on the right side of the road. We took off shoes and then joined the queue coming from the side of the temple. I did wonder why didn’t we walk straight in to the main altar of the temple to pray first, but if everyone prays to the small temple first, then why should I do the opposite? Lol.

Nervously, I asked B “what should I do?” as we were nearing the temple. He answered, “observe. See how they walk and what they do.“

Fearing that I might do mistake, he told me that every steps to the temple will usually odd number.

“Begin with right leg and you’ll end up with right leg too when you reach the top. Also, use your right hand to take thing. Never use leg hand as it signifies bad luck.”

Nodding, I did what he asked. I paipai-ed at the Hindu God statue, walked around the statue clockwise and dabbed an ash over my forehead.

Then we walked to the main altar, where I was told the Hindu God statue (if not mistaken is Lord Murugan) of the chariot they paraded the night before was kept there. I tried squinting my eyes to ‘see’, but still couldn’t really see it. I noticed there were Chinese girls walking to the temple and prayed too. B told me that this temple is popular among the Chinese. I’m okay with the idea of going to the temple of other race to pray, but I believe one should decently, as the girls were in black and erm, short skirts?

We left the temple and continued walking to the Waterfall temple. From the first temple to the Waterfall temple, the view changed from the ‘company’ tent to the tent of selling food, drinks, clothes, accessories and furniture! As we got nearer to the entrance, I told B that – I feel like I’m in India.

Where he shot me “You’ve been to India meh?“

Meh. Cannot say for fun meh?

At the entrance there were milk stall, drink stall, rest stop stall and even stall to safeguard your shoes!

Ohya, one needs to buy a coupon from the coupon stall if plans to give offering to Lord Murugan. I brought 1.5 litre of milk with me, so I also need a coupon or else I would be denied an entry to the temple. Keke.

After keeping our shoes at the ‘shoes stall’, we went up the temple, barefooted. T_____T  Though my sole of my feet are the fragile type with slightly open wound that time (-.-”"), but for the sake of blending in and fun, I walked – the chicken style (kaki ayam). Keke.

One thing that attracts my eyes is the bundle through the sugarcanes supported by 2 people like the picture below. I never seen this in my whole life, nor see this picture in the newspaper before. So I was very, very curious. I asked B what’s that?

Apparently, these couple came and prayed to Lord Murugan either asking for a baby after years of trying, or hope for their ill baby to be healthy. Their wish was granted, therefore they came back to show gratitude, by putting the baby on craddle made of cloth and carried the baby up to the Waterfall Temple.

Interesting it is. No wonder mum asked me not to make any wish, just ask me to enjoy myself and pai pai as show of respect.

We prayed at the small temple at the bottom before heading up. Seeing more and more people going up the stairs, we quickly followed. By the time we reached the middle of the stairway, we were practically sardine-d.

Thank god, it wasn’t that hot! There were cool breeze going past us and the entire journey wasn’t that torturing. Though I was told that we were supposed to feel hardship before reaching the temple.

I noticed many of the devotees wore yellow that day. I noticed the milk container they carried were sealed with plastic and rubber band, but would spill over their head if not carried properly. Remember what I said about the hardship they must go through?

The small kavali carried on the shoulder is cute, that I asked B if he could carry that next year. Haha.

Another eye-catching incident is the human traffic flow coordination! Initially I was wondering why the queue wouldn’t move, and when it moves, we could proceed much. B told me that I’ll know why later. True enough, it’s due to this crossroad!

Unlike Chinese temple where we walk directly to the temple from the front, the Indian must walk around the temple and enter from the right. That’s why the crossroad.

Finally, we reached the altar. We passed our milk to the men there, where they poured the milk into a big pail and poured over Lord Murugan. I was stunned to see the amount of milk being washed down, the sight is just.. just unbelievable. So stunned that I used the wrong hand to take the ash from the men. Only when B said, RIGHT HAND!, I quickly changed to right hand. But I think it was abit too late. T_____T

We went round Lord Ganesh. where he sat on the right and exited the main area through back.

And then we lingered around the temple for a while and I noticed the amount of people ascending the stairs! Really mind-blowing!!!

Rang the bell 3 times, took 2 packets of milk and off we went going the stairs. Halfway walking, B spotted his WD colleague! Keke. While I spotted many kids sitting at the side of the stairs, begging for money.

Which made me think – who brought them there early in the morning? Those kids supposed to be sleeping soundly on their beds, not begging. Tsk tsk.

It was a correct decision heading to Waterfall Temple at 4 in the morning. By the time we walked back to car,  the sky began to lighten up making the entire walk very pleasant.

I was also able to see the first temple better – as I blindly walked into the temple earlier.

The pictures taken on the way back turned out nicer too with the blue sky as the background.

I actually took lots of pictures that day, but could only post up the pretty ones – like the picture above where they designed in a way that the big tree coming out of the ‘mountain fountain’.

Or the replica of Lord Murugan at Batu Caves.

I was super duper ecstatic upon seeing this tent! My company’s! Haha. But I was very shy to pose in front of tent for photo taking, despite coaxing from B. Keke.

I thought this is banned?! Cz not religious-related? Hmm…

Attending Thaipusam is definitely an eye-opener for me. I learnt so many things that night. Like Chinese temple, I should take off my shoes before entering. Also, I learnt that I supposed to enter the temple with my right leg, take things from people using right hands – to signify good luck. I learnt too, that one must walk around the deity/statues/alter clockwise. And during the festival season, banana leaves/trees are tied on the doorway/gateway to bring in luck!

I’m glad that I attended Thaipusam this year. Though I slept like a pig later in the day, but the experience I went through is totally priceless. Including being stared by an old Indian pek for not letting him and the whole family overtaking me when actually I was standing in front of them. T_______T

So, Thaipusam again next year? Keke!

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