With Thaipusam festivities drawing to a close, many Malaysian Hindus have been sharing their journeys and what the celebration meant to them personally. However, for the people who celebrated the religious festival in Penang, this year’s commemoration probably held an extra special place in their hearts.
A recent TikTok video has been making waves online after a user named Pavi shared a clip of himself ascending the steps of a temple in Penang to his page @kingbey19. While the ascension of steps towards a temple may seem similar to what devotees in the Klang Valley pursued as well by going to Batu Caves, this ascension for Penangites saw them climbing these temple steps in the pouring rain.
Sharing a brief moment from the day, Pavi captured a number of people walking up the steps of the temple as it rained heavily. The majority of devotees could be seen donning their traditional attire while soaking wet, soldiering through the climb of the Penang temple. Rushing down rapidly, each person walked upwards carefully so as to manoeuvre the rain water which flooded the stairs.
“Heavy rainfall for Penang’s Thaipusam, but we devotees still march on,” wrote Pavi in the caption of his post.
In a brief conversation with WORLD OF BUZZ, Pavi revealed that the clip was taken at the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple in George Town, also poignantly known as The Waterfall Hilltop Temple.
Upon doing some sleuthing of our own, WORLD OF BUZZ discovered that the temple is seven-storeys tall, and is comparatively higher above ground than Batu Caves. At this temple, devotees have to climb over 500 steps to access the place of worship.
Touching the hearts of many Malaysians who watched the clip, a number of people stated how rain can also be looked at as a form of blessings to those who endured it. No matter rain or shine, every devotee was praised for mustering their strength to make it past the treacherous weather and fulfil their religious duties.
“The obstacles you face will make you stronger, and you will receive true blessings from God,” commented one user.
Watch the full TikTok video below:
To all those who celebrated the occasion, may you have had a blessed Thaipusam!
Also read: M’sian Dancers Dazzle Crowd With Traditional Anggalang Magunatip Dance at Kota Kinabalu Mall
