Annual Thaipusam bazaar in Batu Caves to feature 290 stalls

A balloting session for the bazaar stalls was held on Jan 18 at Dewan Beringin in Taman Sri Gombak. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star

GOMBAK: About 290 stalls are slated to operate at the annual Thaipusam bazaar near the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves from Jan 23 to 26.

This is an increase from the 236 stalls that were set up for business last year, said the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS).

Food and beverage stalls make up the highest number this year at 128, followed by those offering henna painting services at 47.There will also be 51 stalls providing head shaving and tattoo services, as well as 19 others selling flower garlands.

Fifteen stalls are reserved for disabled traders, and another 22 are for non-profit groups. There will also be 10 food trucks.

A balloting session for the stalls was held yesterday at Dewan Beringin in Taman Sri Gombak.

There was also a counter set up for traders to get their typhoid shots and a food handling course they could sign up for.

MPS Licensing Department deputy director Zariman Ibrahim said the event yesterday was meant to simplify the application process.

“Those who were unable to turn up may submit their application to the MPS headquarters before Jan 22, subject to the availability of stalls,” he said.

He said the bazaar would be divided into sections A and B to facilitate crowd control and cleaning.

It would stretch from near Plaza Umno to the Batu Caves KTM station, and the station to near the temple.

The council, in a statement, said the traders were encouraged to adopt cashless payment methods.

Lawrence Edward, who planned on selling ice cream, said he forked out RM3,000 for the business.

“This is the second time I am operating at a Thaipusam bazaar,” said Lawrence, 37, a father of one from Petaling Jaya.

“I hope to make at least a 40% return,” he added.

Eeswaran Seakaran and wife Logapriya Gunasekaran from Kepong said they would be offering head shaving services.