Book on over century-old festival launched

(From left) Authors Ganesh, Dr Arumugam and Dr Nagappan showing the book ‘Penang Thaipusam A Journey Of Faith (1857 - 2016)’ during its launch at the Malaysian Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry office in Penang Street.

ALL you need to know about the 159-year history of Penang Thaipusam is now available in a book.

After more than 10 years of research, the ‘Penang Thaipusam A Journey of Faith (1857-2016)’ has finally been unveiled.

Published by Nattukotai Nagarathar Heritage Society (NNHS), the 167-page book was written by Dr Nagappan Annamalai, Ganesh Kolandaveloo and Datuk Dr N. Arumugam.

Dr Nagappan said the biggest challenge was obtainaing information between 1857 and 1950 as the resources were unavailable online.

“We carried out interviews on how Thaipusam was celebrated during those years.

“This book also has pictures, articles and reports of the celebrations in Penang,” he said yesterday.

Dr Nagappan said among the highlights in the book would probably be the wooden chariot used before 1894 which is now in Medan, Indonesia.

Earlier Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan launched the book at the Malaysian Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Penang office in Penang Street.

“It’s interesting to see how Thaipusam is celebrated in a plural society.

“We see people of other religions taking part and walking the same path to worship Lord Muruga,” he said in his opening speech.

Nattukotai Nagarathar Heritage Society president Datuk N. Ramanathan said they printed 1,000 copies of the book.

“We have plans to sell the book online, so that it can reach readers outside Penang as well.”

The book will retail for US$25 (RM97). For more information, contact 012-4067074.