In Simpang Bekok, about 50km from Melaka, devotees observed Thaipusam at a century-old hilltop temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. The 49-year-old keeper of Sri Valli Thevasena Sri Subramaniar Temple, N. Nageswara Rao, said some 150 devotees decided to fulfil their vow at the temple, which is deep inside an oil-palm estate in Pondok Batang, Simpang Bekok in Jasin. “The temple sits close to the borders of Johor, Negri Sembilan and Melaka,” he said when met at the temple on Thursday (Jan 25).
Nageswara explained that the temple was built by a prominent Chettiar plantation owner by the name of “Mani” in 1904. “He then sold the estate to another owner during the peak of the Communist insurgency in the early 1950s but the name of the plantation is still known as Mani estate. The new owner of the plantation decided to maintain the temple at the site,” he said.
Nageswara also added that he has been taking care of the temple since he was 12 and his 21-year-old son N. Ramarao is currently helping him with the upkeep of the place of worship. He expressed hope that the state government can also place the temple as a part of tourist attractions for Hindu devotees.
Melaka youth, sports and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) committee chairman V.P Shanmugam said lesser-known Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Murugan in the state were given more prominence during this Thaipusam celebration in conjunction with Visit Melaka Year 2024 (TMM2024). He mentioned two temples, Sri Bala Thandayuthabani in Tabong Naning, Alor Gajah and Sri Subramaniar Alayam in Serkam, Jasin, that were given more prominence. “Thaipusam at these temples have long preserved its unique ceremonial rituals and traditions where it can complement the religious segment of TMM 2024,” he noted.
Shanmugam said the state Thaipusam was marked with local devotees thronging the Sri Subramaniar Devasthanam Temple in Batu Berendam. He added that Melaka is home to various places of worship, such as Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Kampung Kling Mosque and Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple, that attract a diverse group of devotees, contributing to the religious segment being a crucial element in TMM 2024.
