The Sri Muniswarar Temple located along Jalan Baru in Prai, Butterworth, is one of the famous and oldest Hindu temples in Penang. The temple was said to be established during the 1870s by a group of Indian immigrants working with the British East India Company.
The Hindu temple at the top of Penang Hill is a beautiful temple adorned with intricate sculptures of Hindu deities. The temple is named Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan and is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Penang. The temple was reportedly started off in the 1800s as a small shrine to the Hindu deity Murugan and after years of expansion, became its present state.
On a side note, Happy Deepavali to all Hindus out there.
In conjunction with the Thaipusam Festival, today is a public holiday in Penang. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community annually.
Today marks the celebration of Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, which is widely observed by Hindus around the world. Deepavali is a public holiday in Malaysia.
Today marks the day of the Thaipusam festival, celebrated by Hindu devotees in the country.
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community annually. Outside India, Malaysia is the only country which widely observes this festival. In Malaysia, it was popularly celebrated by many Hindu devotees either at the Batu Caves in Selangor or the Waterfall Temple in Penang. Carrying the ‘kavadi’ or pulling chariots via ropes pierced on the bodies of devotees are common sights during the festival.
Little India is an ethnic Indian enclave located in George Town, covering an area around Queen Street, Chulia Street and Market Street. Rows of shops selling various Indian apparels, merchandise and food can be found in this area in addition to Penang’s oldest old Indian temple, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple. Little India is especially crowded during festive season such as Diwali or Deepavali.
Pasembur is a type of Malaysian Indian salad consisting of shredded cucumber, potatoes, beancurd, turnip, bean sprouts, prawn fritters, spicy fried crab, fried octopus or other seafoods and served with a sweet and spicy nut sauce. Pasembur can be found popularly in Penang, mostly along Gurney Drive.
A very common breakfast meal ordered by the locals here at Mamak stalls is the ‘Roti Canai’. Roti Canai is a type of Indian-influenced flatbread found and is said to be originated in Malaysia. The word Roti means bread and Roti Canai is usually prepared by twirling the dough to be a very thin sheet and then folding it into a circular shape which is then grilled with oil. Often accompanied with curry gravy, this is still a cheaper and yet satisfying breakfast option for most people here.
A Roti Canai grilled with an egg.
The Roti Canai is also often ordered together with a glass of ‘teh tarik’ or literally “pulled tea”, a hot Indian milk tea beverage as shown above.
A popular Indian cuisine rice meal served on a banana leaf.
“The simplest kavadi is a semicircular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on the shoulders, to the temple. In addition, some have a small spear through their tongue, or a spear through the cheeks. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord Murugan. It also prevents him from speaking and gives great power of endurance. Other types of kavadi involve hooks stuck into the back and either pulled by another walking behind or being hung from a decorated bullock cart or more recently a tractor, with the point of incisions of the hooks varying the level of pain.”
More scenes can be found HERE.