GEORGE TOWN: Music played by thaneer panthal operators will stop by 11pm on Feb 1 as part of measures to prevent crowd surges and improve public safety during this year’s Thaipusam celebrations in Penang.
Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) chairman RSN Rayer said only a centralised sound system covering about 1.5km from Jalan Brown to Jalan Kebun Bunga will continue playing religious music until midnight.
“The centralised sound system will gradually reduce its volume and stop by midnight.
“It will, however, be used for important and emergency announcements,” he told a press conference in Lorong Penang on Friday (Jan 30).
Rayer, however, reiterated that Thaipusam celebrations will go on.
"All 175 thaneer panthal stall operators had agreed to work together to ensure kavadi bearers can pass through smoothly and reach the temples on time.
“They have all agreed to stop playing music by 11pm, as stated in the permit enforced by the police, so action can be taken if violations are found,” he said.
Last year, a crowd surge during the festival led to cases of fainting and blocked emergency access.
This year, about 1.5 million devotees are expected to attend the Thaipusam celebration which falls on a weekend.
The golden chariot managed by PHEB is expected to lead the procession on Saturday (Jan 31) and will be tracked live using an upgraded Pantau 3.0 web application to improve crowd control, traffic management and public safety.
"The scheduled departure is at 6am from Arulmigu Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Lebun Queen, although we may depart earlier at 5.30am to arrive at Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple (Waterfall Hilltop Temple) in Jalan Kebun Bunga earlier than in previous years," Rayer said.
Travelling in tandem behind the golden chariot will be the silver chariot which will depart from the Kovil Veedu Temple in Lebuh Penang.
The golden chariot can be tracked via the Pantau Golden Chariot Tracker 2026 website at https://pantau.digitalpenang.my
Movement of the silver chariot, managed by Nattukottai Chettiars, can be tracked at https://silverchariotpenang.com
