Penang’s chariot of fire

There is a loud battle going on in Penang about the Thaipusam chariot procession. There are claims of casteism, of disrespect and of exclusivity. But at the end of the day, it’s all about the money.

Here’s a story from Hindu mytho­logy. The warrior god Lord Muruga and his brother Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, had both wanted a fruit – the fruit of wisdom. A competition was held to see who deserved it and Ganesha won, with a clever trick.