GEORGE TOWN, Feb 3 – A record crowd converge at the Balathandayuthapani Hilltop Temple here Tuesday to celebrate Thaipusam. Devotees gathered since Monday with many staying the night at various hotels in the vicinity and also at the Natukotai Chettiar Temple.
The crowd was the thickest at half a kilometre leading to the temple in Waterfall Road with more than 300,000 devotees making their way to present offerings. Devotees carrying kavadi and “paalkudam” (milk pots) could be seen pushing through the huge crowd near the foot of the hilltop temple. More than 700 kavadi are expected this year compared to 500 last year with at least 50,000 paalkudam. A crowd of more than a million is expected.
