Aadipooram Festival and Makkal Sakhti

Last Saturday evening marked the Aadipooram Festival organized by Sri Mahakaliamman Sevai Nilayam Temple at Kampung Pandan. The fesival is associated with one of the more revered Hindu Goddess, Kaliamma, or translated into English as 'Mother Time'. According to Wikipedia, "...despite her negative connotations, she is not actually the goddess of death, but rather of Time and Change..." The Festival was slated as a double chariot procession, with that of Viren, the Heavenly Bodyguard to the Gods taking the point, followed by that of Goddess Kaliamma. There were political undertones to the Festival, as the chariot procession was expected to pass through a booth organized by HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Front). The above preceding photographs shows devotees hard at work preparing Goddess Kali's chariot for the procession and the moving of the two chariots to its starting point prior to the commencement of the Festival.

There were musicians...

There were devotees...

There was a Hindu priest performing absolutions and prayers...

...and there was also an adorable and cute baby boy at the Festival as well! ("Too tired! Someone get me a pillow quick!")

The fearsome visage of Viren at the head of the procession. When I was in Penang more than a year ago, a Hindu temple keeper explained to me the significance of Viren, a Heavenly Bodyguard to the Gods. Apparently Viren can get particularly irritated and miffed if devotees seeking his assistance has been wronged, or has done wrong, in any of these two matters. Viren will not tolerate those who would throw sand into the rice bowl of others, and he takes exception to those who would seduce the wives of others. Unlike most of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Viren can be worshipped with offerings of meat and tobacco.

The above two photographs are portraits of dancers from the Indrani Dance Academy based at Batu Caves. They were to precede the head of the procession, with the latter dancer showcasing the Peacock Dance, as noted by the peacock feathers forming part of her costume.

Musicians to accompany the procession. It was there I first encountered an Indian musical instrument, as seen borne by a musician on the right, that was played by rubbing something against its solid surface. Shaped approximately to an Indian classical drum, it produced a particular humming sound that was strange to my ears. I really cannot quite describe the sensation I felt upon hearing the instrument being played.

Bullocks garlanded and clothed in golden silk before being hitched to Goddess Kaliamma's chariot. As a measure of good luck, I later caressed the silk cloth that swaddled the bullocks as the procession made its way through from the Indian Settlement in Kampung Pandan.

The moving of the visage of Goddess Kaliamma from the Temple to the chariot. As the bearers carried the visage, they swayed it in a slow and rhythmic swinging motion...

...and moments later safely emplace the visage within the bedecked and gaily lighted chariot.

Setting off of fireworks before the commencement of the procession. As the musicians began their music, the dancers swirled, the devotees entranced, and the observers began to feel more as participants. Along the way, small and impromptu booths were set up by devotees showcasing offerings to either Viren or Goddess Kaliamma. The chariots would then stop by each and every booth, accepting all offerings no matter how big or small.

Dr. Lo' Lo' Ghazali, Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa was invited on behest of the Indian community to mark the Aadipooram Festival. To the left of Dr. Lo' Lo' is Mr. Ramamoorthi, dressed in white shirt, who furnished me with directions to the Temple and who would later ferry me there by motorcycle from the HINDRAF booth that same evening. My many thanks to Mr. Ramamoorthi for his kind assistance.

The candlelight vigil for Mr. Wayna Moorthy and the other five HINDRAF leaders detained under ISA as the chariot procession winded its way to the HINDRAF booth. I was introduced to a Mr. Jayaathas of HINDRAF who was one of the four HINDRAF activists who were arrested on Thursday for demonstrating at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. The chariot procession was delayed for more than a quarter of an hour at the HINDRAF booth as the police refused to permit the candlelight vigil to accompany the procession. After negotiations between the police, the procession organizers, and HINDRAF representatives, the procession slowly picked up its pace through the city streets. Sans candles. (Mr. Jayaathas, if ya readin' this, remember the joke about the white hen sacrifice? Its still not too late, ya know...)

I also would like to thank police officers Mr. Johnson on the left and Mr. Special Branch on the right for agreeing to a photo opportunity. (Right now, I'm just waiting for that discreet knock on the door in the wee hours of the morning by a couple of guys from Peace Hill. Can ya imagine? "Well, Mr. Teoh, we take umbrage at our Special Branch officers being photographed by a Nobody like you. I mean, we expected at the very least National Geographic. Err, more coffee?")