一個爸 a Father ...

a Father holds his daughter's hands for a short while

BUT will he holding her heart forever

...

 

不是英雄的父亲 Fathers are never heroes ...

and Fathers

don'ts need to be heroes,

they just need to be there

... 

Pongal Harvest Festival 丰收节 9 of 10 ...

Batu Caves
Kuala Lumpur

Pongal Harvest Festival 丰收节 8 of 10 ...

Pongal Harvest Festival 

丰收节

...

Arrival of the pilgrims to the next temple
prayers before entering the temple
for the offerings ceremony
...













Batu Cave
Kuala Lumpur

Pongal Harvest Festival 丰收节 7 of 10 ...

Pongal Harvest Festival 

丰收节

...

The Pilgrimage begins from 
main temple of Kuala Lumpur 
Batu Cave to the next temple,
which took about 30 minutes.
...
I cannot imagine the 65 km pilgrimage
in India from Kottayam to Sabarimala.
I have heard that that pilgrimage
in India is one of the largest migration
of people in an annual event
...
Despite the smaller size and the symbolic distance
of the pilgrimage in KL Batu Caves, 
it was great to have witness and followed
through the pilgrimage walk
...

Batu Cave
Kuala Lumpur

Pongal Harvest Festival 丰收节 6 of 10 ...

Pongal Harvest Festival 
丰收节
...
In celebration of the Pongal Festival, 
which is thanks giving back to the mother earth for a good harvest;
there is a concurrent festival called the Makara Sangkrathi, 
which is a celebrattion for Lord Ayyappa 
(a symbol of religious unity and communal harmony) 
in Sabarimala, India.
...
 What the men carrying on their heads are called Irumudi.
Only men that had observed the necessary fasting 
are allowed to carry one.
The content of the Irumudi includes articles for offerings as well
as the pilgrims personal requirements for the journey.
In India, the pilgrimage is about 65 km from 
Kottayam to Sabarimala
which will take 2 - 4 days depending on the individual.
...
Of course, in KL Batu Caves the pilgrimage is 
also observed in the proper manner but the pilgrimage 
journey a shorter journey from one temple to another temple
within Batu Caves 
...

Batu Caves
Kuala Lumpur

Pongal Harvest Festival 丰收节 5 of 10 ...

Pongal Harvest Festival 
丰收节
...
Children at the 
Pongal Festival
...

Batu Caves

Kuala Lumpur

Pongal Harvest Festival 丰收节 4 of 10 ...

Pongal Harvest Festival 
丰收节
...
In India, it is believe that the cow is 
a sacred animal to act as surrogate mother
to provide milk for human beings for their entire lives
...
As the festive day continues, 
women carry pots of milk sitting on their head
preparing for a symbolic pilgrimage
...

Batu Caves

Kuala Lumpur 

Pongal Harvest Festival 丰收节 3 of 10 ...

Pongal Harvest Festival 
丰收节
...
The word "Pongal" literally means "Boiling over",
and Kolams (ground patterns with rice flour) 
are boiled in pots in front yard of houses and temples
...
The day begins with as early as possible
the making of Kolams at the entrances to houses or temples,
it is auspicious to draw the Kolams before sunrise 
so that the Sun God can see them 
and come to bless the household or temple
...

Batu Caves
Kuala Lumpur

Pongal Harvest Festival 丰收节 2 of 10 ...

Pongal Harvest Festival 
丰收节
...
Pongal is the harvest festival 

dedicated to the sun god;

in Southern India the end of the harvest

it is observed as a 4 days festival called Pongal
...
It is like a Thanksgiving to the god for 
the plentiful harvest received. 
As I understand, it is a very big festival 
in Southern India and the tradition 
continues to be observed by the Indians in Malaysia

 
 

 






Batu Caves
Kuala Lumpur
 

Pongal Harvest Festival 丰收节 1 of 10 ...

Pongal Harvest Festival 
丰收节
...
Pongal festival falls on mid January every year,
this year it was on the 15th January.
Driving to Batu Caves 
early morning on a Sunday was easy.
...
Not nearly as many people compared to Thaipusam.
I spent almost half a day from 
6:30am in the morning, following the prayers
and the symbolic pilgrimage to the next temple
...
The center of activities as I arrived
was the chanting of prayers at one of the temples
in Batu Caves 
...

Batu Caves
Kuala Lumpur