On June 29, the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Kovil Temple in the Penang Botanic Gardens was flooded with thousands of devotees from all over for the auspicious Kumbabhishekam ceremony. The ceremony began before the crack of dawn, and the roads clogged up with keen devotees eager to take part in this holy event.
The temple, also known as the Hilltop Murugan Temple or the Waterfall Hill Temple, is one of the oldest temples in Penang and South-East Asia. Built in 1786, the seven-storey temple is well known among Hindu devotees in the country as it is the focus for the annual Thaipusam celebrations – hence its immense size to accommodate growing crowds. It is the largest temple dedicated to Lord Murugan outside of India.
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