Eye for detail: Punithan working on a custom-made kavadi for the coming Thaipusam festival. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
IPOH: Even before he begins working on symbolic offerings, kavadi maker P. Maariraja strictly eats vegetarian food.
“We are making these kavadi for a sacred matter, so we should remain clean as well,” he said.
“The devotees who carry kavadi would be vegetarians, so I don’t want to defile it by not being a vegetarian myself.
“I have disciplined myself since young to be vegetarian, and now my children are following in my footsteps.”
Maariraja, 63, who has been crafting intricate and elaborate kavadi for almost four decades, is proud that his three sons are preparing to carry on with the task.
“Soon, my sons will take over, ensuring that this craft and devotion will continue,” said Maariraja, whose journey as a kavadi maker began at the age of 24.
For the time being, he’s been racing against the clock to finish all the kavadi for Thaipusam.
He had to limit the orders to just 10 kavadi this year.
“This year, I received too many requests. I had to reduce the orders,” he said during an interview at his workshop in Menglembu near here yesterday.
The cost of his kavadi ranges from RM2,500 to RM8,000.
For lighter alternatives, he designs kavadi weighing between 15kg and 20kg, often featuring statues of Lord Vinayagar and Lord Muruga.
“I use polystyrene and feathers, paints and sequins to decorate them, ensuring they are both sturdy and visually stunning.
“Each kavadi takes days to complete, as every detail must be precise to reflect the devotion of the bearer.
“It’s a busy time for us during Thaipusam, but I take great pride in knowing that my work plays a role in this sacred festival.”
Another kavadi maker, S. Punithan, said he has been working round the clock to deliver the orders.
He said he starts work as early as 8.30am and continues until 5.30am the next day.
“I enjoy doing this and hope to expand my business in the future,” he added.
Punithan, 35, said he has received 31 orders from customers from all over the country.
“We had to stop accepting orders after that,” he said.
