Musicians given approval can play specified instruments at 3 points along procession route
By Melody Zaccheus, The Straits Times, 3 Dec 2015
Live music will be allowed for next year's Thaipusam street procession for the first time in more than four decades.
The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) and the police said yesterday that musicians, who have been given approval, can play specified traditional instruments at three points along the route.
The instruments are the nadhaswaram clarinet, a barrel-shaped drum called the tavil, and the urumi melam or Indian drum.
The decision to relax the rules comes after 10 feedback sessions conducted by the board with 116 members of the Hindu community over a period of two months, ending in April.
All participants shared that music is important to the festival with 65 per cent wanting traditional auspicious Indian instruments to be part of the religious event. Some also suggested that live music be played at strategic locations along the 3km route which starts at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road and ends at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in Tank Road.
A ban has been in place since 1973 that restricts the playing of musical instruments due to a history of rivalry and fights between competing groups which disrupted the procession. The authorities have allowed music to be transmitted over broadcast systems at several designated points along the procession since 2012. Despite the ban, devotees have been playing instruments on the streets over the years.
By Melody Zaccheus, The Straits Times, 3 Dec 2015
Live music will be allowed for next year's Thaipusam street procession for the first time in more than four decades.
The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) and the police said yesterday that musicians, who have been given approval, can play specified traditional instruments at three points along the route.
POLICE STATEMENT ON THAIPUSAMIn response to media queries, the Police would like to highlight that Police’s priority...
Posted by Singapore Police Force on Tuesday, December 1, 2015
The instruments are the nadhaswaram clarinet, a barrel-shaped drum called the tavil, and the urumi melam or Indian drum.
The decision to relax the rules comes after 10 feedback sessions conducted by the board with 116 members of the Hindu community over a period of two months, ending in April.
All participants shared that music is important to the festival with 65 per cent wanting traditional auspicious Indian instruments to be part of the religious event. Some also suggested that live music be played at strategic locations along the 3km route which starts at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road and ends at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in Tank Road.
A ban has been in place since 1973 that restricts the playing of musical instruments due to a history of rivalry and fights between competing groups which disrupted the procession. The authorities have allowed music to be transmitted over broadcast systems at several designated points along the procession since 2012. Despite the ban, devotees have been playing instruments on the streets over the years.
HEB chairman R. Jayachandran described the Government's acceptance of the board's recommendations as a "historical first step".
"It shows that the authorities are taking the concerns and needs of the community seriously," he said.
The police have also added another four points, on top of the existing three, for the transmission of music over broadcast systems for next year's procession.
Thaipusam is celebrated in honour of Lord Subramaniam, also known as Lord Murugan, who represents virtue, youth and power, and is the destroyer of evil. Devotees seek blessings and fulfil their vows by carrying milk pots as offerings, or kavadis - structures of steel and wood - with sharp body piercings.
Thaipusam is celebrated in honour of Lord Subramaniam, also known as Lord Murugan, who represents virtue, youth and power, and is the destroyer of evil. Devotees seek blessings and fulfil their vows by carrying milk pots as offerings, or kavadis - structures of steel and wood - with sharp body piercings.
The procession here is organised by the HEB, a statutory body, the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple and the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.
Mr Mu Mu Muthiah, 79, president of the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, added: "If everyone cooperates, the rules might be relaxed even further."
During Thaipusam in February, three men were arrested for their disorderly behaviour after another group was told to stop the use of traditional drums at the behest of organisers.
The police said yesterday that its priority is "to ensure public safety and maintain law and order" and that the festival, which usually stretches beyond 26 hours, presents unique challenges as it draws 10,000 devotees and thousands of onlookers to the streets.
All religious foot processions were banned in Singapore in 1964 in the wake of race riots that year. But Hindus were given an exemption and have been allowed three processions on major roads - during Thaipusam, Panguni Uthiram and Thimithi festivals.
On the authorities' implementation of their suggestions, Mr Jayachandran said: "It's about balancing religious sanctity with security concerns. It's a happy ending."
HEB releases statement on Thaipusam.Click the link for more details: http://heb.gov.sg/thaipusamstatement.aspx
Posted by Hindu Endowments Board on Tuesday, December 1, 2015
The changes for next year
The Straits Times, 3 Dec 2015
These are the adjustments to next year's Thaipusam to ensure a "safe and orderly" festival.
• There will be a total of seven static music transmission points and three live music stations.
• Resting bays will be set up throughout the procession route while a dedicated lane for children, women and elderly devotees will be introduced along Clemenceau Avenue.
• The number of volunteers will be doubled from 350 to 700 to help manage the crowds.
• The last kavadi carrier will get to leave from the starting point at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road at a later timing of 7pm instead of 5pm as in recent years.
• The cost of participating as a kavadi carrier has been halved from $150 to $75.
* Enforcement against alcohol sale and consumption will be stepped up along the route.
About eight groups of "urumi melam", or Indian drum players, will take the stage at these locations during the 3km religious procession on Sunday, the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) told The Straits Times.
The locations, identified by the police, are at least 100m away from residential areas.
Another 12 musicians have also been hired to play the "nadhaswaram", a type of clarinet, and a barrel-shaped drum called the "thavil" at these stages. Music will also be broadcast at seven other locations, said HEB chairman R. Jayachandran, adding that "there won't be a stretch that is without music".
The annual Hindu festival, which usually takes place over about 24 hours, is celebrated in honour of Lord Murugan, who represents virtue, youth and power.
Devotees seek blessings and fulfil their vows by carrying milk pots as offerings. Many also carry kavadis - structures of steel and wood - and pierce their bodies with steel rods, among other things.
The Straits Times, 3 Dec 2015
These are the adjustments to next year's Thaipusam to ensure a "safe and orderly" festival.
• There will be a total of seven static music transmission points and three live music stations.
• Resting bays will be set up throughout the procession route while a dedicated lane for children, women and elderly devotees will be introduced along Clemenceau Avenue.
• The number of volunteers will be doubled from 350 to 700 to help manage the crowds.
• The last kavadi carrier will get to leave from the starting point at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road at a later timing of 7pm instead of 5pm as in recent years.
• The cost of participating as a kavadi carrier has been halved from $150 to $75.
* Enforcement against alcohol sale and consumption will be stepped up along the route.
Before you catch the Thaipusam procession happening this Sunday, we’d like to share with you some footage of a Thaipusam...
Posted by I Love Museums on Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Live music at Thaipusam after 42 years
Three stages to be set up at least 100m away from residential areas along 3km route
By Melody Zaccheus, The Straits Times, 18 Jan 2016
More people on the ground this year.
Live music will be played from three stages in Hastings Road, Short Street and Dhoby Ghaut Green at this year's Thaipusam, the first time in 42 years that live music has been allowed for the procession.
Three stages to be set up at least 100m away from residential areas along 3km route
By Melody Zaccheus, The Straits Times, 18 Jan 2016
Live music will be played from three stages in Hastings Road, Short Street and Dhoby Ghaut Green at this year's Thaipusam, the first time in 42 years that live music has been allowed for the procession.
About eight groups of "urumi melam", or Indian drum players, will take the stage at these locations during the 3km religious procession on Sunday, the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) told The Straits Times.
The locations, identified by the police, are at least 100m away from residential areas.
Another 12 musicians have also been hired to play the "nadhaswaram", a type of clarinet, and a barrel-shaped drum called the "thavil" at these stages. Music will also be broadcast at seven other locations, said HEB chairman R. Jayachandran, adding that "there won't be a stretch that is without music".
The annual Hindu festival, which usually takes place over about 24 hours, is celebrated in honour of Lord Murugan, who represents virtue, youth and power.
Devotees seek blessings and fulfil their vows by carrying milk pots as offerings. Many also carry kavadis - structures of steel and wood - and pierce their bodies with steel rods, among other things.
Said Mr Jayachandran: "The kavadi bearers pierce their bodies, causing enormous pain, as part of the vows they have taken. The music will be useful in reducing the pain and enhancing their spiritual focus throughout their journey."
The procession - organised by HEB, a statutory body, the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple and the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple - is expected to draw more than 250 kavadi bearers as participation fees have been halved from $150 to $75 this year.
A total of 10,000 devotees are expected to carry milk pots, and another 30,000 members of the public are expected to throng the streets. This does not include the migrant worker crowds usually seen in Little India on Sundays.
For 42 years, going back to 1973, the playing of musical instruments on the streets during Thaipusam was banned due to past fights between competing groups, which disrupted the procession.
During Thaipusam in February last year, three men were arrested for disorderly behaviour after another group was told to stop the use of traditional drums by organisers.
The rule was relaxed late last year after HEB conducted 10 feedback sessions with 116 members of the Hindu community. All said music was integral to the festival, with 65 per cent wanting traditional Indian instruments to be part of it. Some people also suggested that live music be allowed at strategic locations along the route.
The Thaipusam procession is one of three Hindu festivals exempted from a ban on religious foot processions, introduced in the wake of race riots here in 1964. The other two are the Panguni Uthiram and Thimiti (fire-walking) festivals.
Said Mr Jayachandran: "The pressure is on to ensure everything goes smoothly without any violations, so rules can be relaxed further, instead of tightened for Thaipusam 2017."
HEB has ramped up efforts to ensure the $250,000 event, which has taken nine months to put together, goes smoothly. For instance, it is deploying 800 personnel - double that of last year - to ensure the event runs smoothly. Also, more experienced volunteers will be dispatched to regulate high traffic areas.
The board has also set up a website, www.thaipusam.sg and a kit for participants to familiarise themselves with the process.
Mr S. Prethev Raj , 42, a commercial manager who has participated as a kavadi bearer for the past 13 years, described this year's procession as "a new beginning".
He said: "The beauty of the entire procession is in the music. The relaxation in rules could motivate more youth to pick up traditional instruments, and eliminate Western instruments such as bongos, which have made an appearance in previous festivals."
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