GEORGE TOWN: Devotees have been urged to reduce the number of coconuts broken during the upcoming Thaipusam celebration amid rising prices.
Instead, the savings should be channelled towards helping those in need, according to the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP).
CAP education officer NV Subbarow said checks showed coconuts currently selling for RM2 to RM3 each in Penang, with prices expected to climb further as Thaipusam approaches.
In a joint appeal with the Malaysian Hindu Sangam, CAP called on devotees to stop breaking coconuts in large quantities, many of which end up discarded.
"We are not asking devotees to stop the ritual altogether. We are asking them to reduce the number and donate the money saved to financially struggling families, old folks’ homes or children’s homes," Subbarow said.
He said if each devotee broke just one coconut, the collective savings could benefit thousands, particularly low-income families within the Indian community.
While coconut-breaking symbolises the offering of one’s ego at the feet of God, Subbarow said the practice must be carried out meaningfully and without waste.
"In Hindu tradition, food offered to God is prasadam and should be consumed, not thrown away. Breaking thousands of coconuts only for them to end up in landfills goes against the spirit of the ritual," he said.
He added that some devotees, including those from the Chinese community, mistakenly believe breaking more coconuts brings greater good fortune.
"As a result, thousands are broken every year, discarded, and later burned, releasing polluting gases. This act is neither religious nor practical," he said.
Subbarow urged devotees to reflect on the practice, especially in the current economic climate. He also cited a recent survey showing a shortage of coconuts, with vendors reporting limited supply.
Coconut plantation operators in Bagan Datuk, Perak, confirmed that trees were producing fewer fruits. Extreme weather conditions and climate change are major factors contributing to the low yield, he said.
