Clean Thaipusam volunteers separating plastic bottles for recycling at Batu Caves.
ABOUT 500 volunteers will be on duty at five major Thaipusam celebration locations nationwide to help maintain cleanliness.
These volunteers are part of the Clean Thaipusam initiative, which began in 2019 at Batu Caves in Selangor with just 20 participants.
Clean Thaipusam co-founder T. Sathiyavarmaan said the initiative had since expanded to temples in five states.
This year, in addition to Batu Caves, Clean Thaipusam volunteers will be stationed at Kallumalai Arulmigu Subramaniyar Temple in Ipoh, Perak; Thanneermalai Shree Balathandayuthpani Temple in George Town, Penang; and Sri Subramaniya Swami Devasthanam Temple in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
Fruit offerings are collected to feed animals.
Making its debut in 2025 will be Clean Thaipusam at Sri Subramaniar Temple in Masai, Johor.
“Batu Caves alone attracts over a million visitors during Thaipusam.
“While rubbish bins are provided, there is still a need for more hands to help in cleaning up efforts,” Sathiyavarmaan said.
This year, the group is introducing 250 cardboard boxes covered with moisture-proof paint at the bottom to make them more durable as makeshift bins.
Volunteers will also collect leftover fruits from offerings made at Batu Caves.
“Last year, we collected over one tonne of fruits which were fed to animals and we’ll do the same this year,” Sathiyavarmaan said.
