Electrician C. Dineskumaran has a hidden talent – he creates elaborate and intricate kavadis which are in high demand, even in Singapore.
One of his creations, a kavadi of Lord Muruga sitting on top of a Garuda, is set to be carried on the eve of Thaipusam, an important Hindu festival celebrated on Jan 25.
Dineskumaran was inspired by the statue of Lord Vishnu on the Indonesian mythological bird in Bali, Indonesia, when designing his kavadi. The Lord Muruga kavadi took him a month to make using styrofoam, sequins, jewellery and wood.
According to Dineskumaran, the statue alone weighs 20kg and with the frame, the total weight is expected to be about 30kg.
The kavadi is believed to be the first of its kind in Malaysia and will be carried by a devotee in Ipoh during the eve of Thaipusam.
Thaipusam is an important festival for Hindus, which commemorates Goddess Parvati giving her son Lord Muruga a spear (vel) to eliminate the evil power, Soorapadman.
Dineskumaran is not just making a Lord Muruga kavadi, but also a 2.1m-high statue of Goddess Kaliamman for a chariot procession in Lumut. Both the kavadis come with LED lights, thanks to Dineskumaran’s job as an electrician.
His journey in making kavadis started at 15 when he was living in Buntong, and since then, he has not stopped. His artistic work is known through social media, attracting customers from Singapore.
He is making a total of six kavadis this year, three of which have been booked by customers in Singapore. Due to the intricate work involved, he is only able to make six kavadis this year. He sells and rents out his creations.
