Dragon Shape Kavadi On Thaipusam To Symbolise Unity In Conjunction With Chinese New Year

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- Every year leading up to Thaipusam is the busiest time for Kavadi maker R. Ramesh, working the night through to complete orders from customers who want to pay their vows.

This year, he is offering customers a difference by designing a giant Kavadi in the shape of a dragon in conjunction with Chinese New Year to be celebrated next month, about two weeks after Thaipusam, which falls on Jan 25.

Ramesh, 54, said he came up with the idea when approached by a customer a few weeks ago who requested something different and new for his Kavadi.

“Since the Chinese New Year is also approaching and this year is the year of the dragon, I suggest to my customer to have a Kavadi in the form of a combination of Lord Murugan and a dragon.

“This is because Thaipusam is not only celebrated by Hindus but also by other races, including from the Chinese community, to pay their vows.

 "When he (the customer) agreed, I made some sketches, with the early ones not turning out so well, but after several more attempts, managed to get the right balance between Lord Murugan and the Dragon.,” he told Bernama when met at his workshop in Tanjung Bungah, here.

The father of three said it took him three days to build the 1.5 metre-high and 1.8-meter-wide dragon with a 3D concept and used styrofoam as the material is lighter, easy to handle and will not burden the Kavadi bearer.

“I used the 3D concept because I wanted the sculpture to look realistic and attract public attention. The carving had to be done carefully and the right colouring technique had to be used to ensure that the work looked 'alive',” he said.

Ramesh said work on the Kavadi started with the sketching process.

“The styrofoam is then cut into several parts according to the sketch before the pieces are carefully carved and then painted according to the exact colour scheme and finally assembled into a dragon with Lord Murugan 'resting' on the dragon's head,” he said, adding that the dragon will also be decorated with lights to make it glow.

The process of building the Kavadi may look difficult, but Ramesh’s talent and his more than 30 years of experience as a sculptor make the task very easy for him.

"I didn't get a formal education in this art of carving but, I learned the skill while working at a hotel since I was 17 years old, and at the age of 35, I decided to quit my job and make this job my main source of income.

Ramesh said for this coming Thaipusam, he only accepted a few orders, including for the dragon which is sold for RM3,500, and also some other decorations and ornaments such as peacocks, vases and lotus flowers.

Thaipusam is observed annually in the month of “Thai” in the Tamil calendar, which is usually in January or February to honour Lord Murugan.

In some places, the procession often involves devotees carrying the Kavadi, which are decorative structures carried by devotees as a sign of sacrifice and respect for Lord Murugan.

Normally, Hindus carry the Kavadi to offer to Lord Murugan, and also the Paal Kudam, or milk pot.

-- BERNAMA