1.3 MILLION PEOPLE EXPECTED AT BATU CAVES FOR THAIPUSAM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- More than 1.3 million devotees and visitors are
expected to throng the Batu Caves for Thaipusam celebrations on Jan 20.

The increase in the number of devotees and visitors as compared to last year's
one million visitors could be attributed to the convenience of new commuter
services serving the Port Klang-Batu Caves route, said Sri Maha Mariamman
Devasthanam chairman R. Nadarajah.

"The services which started on July 29, last year would certainly lighten the
journey for those wishing to travel by public transport," he told Bernama
Thursday.

He said the celebrations would begin from Jan 16, with some 120,000 people
expected to be at the Batu Caves to commemorate the birth of Lord Murugan.

Nadarajah said that this year, more than 2,000 devotees were expected to carry
'pal kudams' (milk pots) while about 1,000 would carry large kavadis.

There will be more than 400 stalls selling food, drinks, souvenirs and clothing.

Nadarajah said a press conference would be held on Jan 14 to announce highlights
of the celebrations.

The Thaipusam festival commemorates the birthday of Lord Murugan, the younger
son of Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Lord
Murugan a 'vel' (spear) so that he could vanquish the evil demon, Soorapadman.
-- BERNAMA