Double the celebration

Corner Talk: ManUtd regained top spot of league after defeating the stubborn West Ham United by a goal to nil in Upton Park. Veteran, Ryan Giggs put United upfront with a low curling shot to the right goal thus leaving keeper Robert Green in puzzled. London's big shots, Chelsea and Arsenal drew against Hull City and Spurs respectively, while Liverpool snatched a 3-2 victory over Portsmouth.

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Yesterday, Hindus around the world were celebrating Thaipusam, a festival to commemorates both the birthday of Lord Murugan, the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati and the occasion when Parvati gave a spear to Murugan so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.

Devotees thronged up the Batu Caves,
a holy temple for the Hindus community in Kuala Lumpur.
The large tall gold-colored statue of
Lord Murugan greeted the visitors
at the entrance of the site.
The highlight of the event includes the marching parade
which begins in the wee hours of the morning from the
Sri Mahamariamman Temple,
leading up to Batu Caves with
plenty of street performers and kavadi-carriers ...

Street performers putting up exhilarating fire-dance ...

Today, the Chinese will be celebrating
Chap Goh Mei (15th day of CNY)
which symbolizes the occasion of the
first full moon in the Lunar Calendar.
Of course, CNY is never run short of
Li0n Dance performance.

It is also when young unmarried women gather to toss
mandarin oranges @ Lo-Kam with their
names and contact information written on it
into the river, in a hope that their future spouse will pick it up
– a custom that originated in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
In the past, this was also the only day that
unmarried ladies could be seen with their partners.
Anyone is going out to pick Lo-Kam tonight?
Lolz :)

The Journals wishes a
"Happy Thaipusam and Chap Goh Mei"
to everyone out there.
May you all have the sweetest celebration ever!

Always,
KeithK :)