Thousands of devotees participating in the Kumbavishegam ceremony at the Shree Ganesha Temple grounds. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
AFTER 12 years, the Arulmigu Sree Ganesha Temple along Waterfall Road, Penang, came alive again with colours and prayers as more than 5,000 devotees gathered to witness its long-awaited Maha Kumbavishegam (consecration ceremony).
The final day of the sacred ritual, which marked the purification and formal re-energising of a temple and its deities, came after five days of homams (fire rituals) and ceremonies on the temple grounds.
Families with young children, elderly devotees leaning on canes and youths filled every corner of the temple compound to fulfil their vows after years of waiting.
K. Kumarathiraviam, chairman of the Waterfall Shree Balathandayuthapani Devasthanam, said it was a defining moment for the temple’s identity.
“Ganesha (Temple) or Vinayagar, also known as Elephant God, was here long before the present Hilltop Temple, which was built 12 years ago.
“People have always come to him first to remove their obstacles, but he was never truly in the limelight.
“Today, the focus is entirely on (Ganesha) the elder brother of Lord Muruga (which the Hilltop Temple is dedicated to).
“It was meaningful and deeply emotional for everyone present,” he said.
The temple last held a Maha Kumbavishegam in 1979.
While the ritual is ideally performed every 12 years, he said the timing might vary depending on circumstances.
Kumarathiraviam added that the temple began as a modest Vinayagar shrine maintained by early waterfront labourers and their families.
“Our grandparents prayed at that small shrine before climbing the hill. That was the original gateway of devotion along Waterfall Road,” he said.
Ahead of the recent consecration, the temple underwent extensive refurbishment.
Artisans repainted the gopuram (monumental tower) in vivid colours, while craftsmen restored icons and structural repairs were carried out to ensure longevity.
The sanctum was also given fresh embellishments, while floral arches, lanterns and kolam (decorative art) designs prepared by volunteers adorned the grounds.
A priest performing rituals ahead of the consecration ceremony in the temple.
“This is a complete spiritual and physical refresh.
“When thousands gather in such harmony for a single purpose, you see how special this temple is and how clearly Vinayagar was the focus,” he said.
The temple received more than RM1mil in donations, including nearly RM400,000 from elected representatives and strong support from devotees.
“People gave whatever they could – flowers, lamps, offerings, materials. That community spirit is what built this temple and keeps it alive,” he said.
Among the many who turned up was scrap metal trader R. Sivakumar, 42, who travelled from Butterworth with his family.
“We have attended Lord Muruga’s celebrations for years, but today felt special because the day belonged to Vinayagar,” he said.
The consecration will be followed by a 48-day Mandala Abishegam, a period of intensified daily worship.
When the sanctum reopened after the consecration ceremony, long queues quickly formed through the compound.
Young parents lifted toddlers to glimpse the newly anointed deities, teenagers offered flowers in silence and elderly devotees pressed their palms to the temple walls in prayer.
Many also made their way to the large panthal (canopy) for vegetarian meals.
Kumarathiraviam said that for the first time ever, Lord Ganesha will also embark on a Golden Chariot journey on Jan 10, ahead of Thaipusam on Feb 1.
This honour has traditionally been reserved for Lord Muruga.
The procession will begin at 6pm from Gottlieb Road to Ayer Rajah Road, the Penang Hindu Endowment Board premises, before returning to Waterfall Road.
The Ganesha temple at the foothill of the Waterfall Hilltop temple complex traces its roots to 1951 when it was built by the Hindu Mahajana Sangam, a group formed by Penang’s waterfront labourers.
What began as a simple Ganesha temple for dock workers has since grown into a key prayer point for Hindu devotees in Penang.
For many, this foothill temple is the first stop before climbing the 513 steps to the famous hilltop Muruga temple.
Devotees traditionally offer their prayers to Lord Ganesha here before undertaking the ascent, making the site a symbolic gateway to the entire Waterfall Road pilgrimage.
