This year’s Thaipusam procession will feature more static music points along the route, from nine to 23, said the Hindu Endowment Board.

According to information posted on the official Thaipusam website, the 23 static music points are at the following locations: Outside Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, along 412 Serangoon Road, Baboo Lane, the Veeramakaliamman Temple, Cuff Road, Selegie Road, Prinsep Street, Dhoby Ghaut Green, outside Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, the head shaving area at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, at two points along Clemenceau Avenue and at 11 thaneer panthals situated along the route.

There will also be three “live” music points at Hastings Road, Short Street and Bras Basah Road field, where musicians will perform from 8am to 10.30pm.

This year’s Thaipusam festival will be held on Feb 9, although the activities associated with Thaipusam festival last for two days at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple and at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple.

The organisers for this year’s procession issued an appeal, on the Thaipusam website, to participants “to avoid playing any musical instruments along the procession route or engage musical groups to play in the procession route”.

Organisers also urged participants “not (to) leave the Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple after 7pm (on Feb 9) to avoid any action to be taken by the authorities”.

From 1973 to 2015, the playing of musical instruments on the streets during Thaipusam was banned due to fights that would occur between competing groups, which in turn, disrupted the procession.

During the 2015 festival, for example, three men were arrested for disorderly behaviour after another group was told to stop the use of traditional drums by the organisers. Live music was brought back to the festival last year.

More information about Thaipusam can be found at thaipusam.sg.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by Today Online

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