From Hobby To Heritage: 20 Years Of Handcrafted Kavadi For Thaipusam

By R. Ratcharathan

GEORGE TOWN, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- In an era increasingly dominated by machines, one artisan is keeping the timeless craft of Kavadi-making alive, adding colour and artistry to Thaipusam celebrations for over two decades.

For V.K.Pragalathen, the art of creating the intricate and vibrant Kavadi is far more than just a business, he described it as his passion and hobby.

Starting his journey at just 18 years old, he recalls how it all began as a simple hobby. Back then, he encouraged people to carry Kavadi, making them by hand before this hobby transformed into a serious business, with the encouragement of three friends, A.Raymond, 44, V.Selvakumar, 51 and Y.Kantha, 44, who pushed him to pursue his craft even further.

Now at age of 43, with over two decades of experience, Pragalathen and his team have perfected the art of manual kavadi making and sticks to roots wherbey everything is crafted by hand despite the rise of machine-made designs.

"The process is painstaking, taking up to four days to complete a single Kavadi (if focus full time) and the meticulous work requires time and patience. It’s all about the details and that is what makes each piece unique.

"There’s something about doing it by hand that makes it special and each year, we receive design requests from customers while some of them go on with our own design which are shared via Facebook and TikTok," he said in a exclusive interview with Bernama at Dewan Majlis Pengurusan Komuniti Kampung (MPKK) Paya Terubong here.

Kavadi is an arch-like structure carried by Hindu devotees on their shoulders for Thaipusam as an act of devotion and gratitude to the deity Lord Murugan to fulfil their vows or prayers.

Hindus will celebrate Thaipusam on Feb 11, to commemorate the occasion of Lord Murugan receiving the sacred spear from his mother, Goddess Parvati, to eliminate the evil Soorapadman and restore prosperity and well-being to humanity.

For this year’s Thaipusam, Pragalathen has received 13 orders for Kavadis with two having already been completed and delivered to clients in Johor, while the rest are being worked on around the clock to ensure they are ready for handover by Monday.

He said the cost for a single Kavadi ranges from RM800 to RM900, depending on the design and complexity, considering their prices are among the most affordable in town, with the highest price reaching RM3,500.

Although their income may not be as high as those who commercialise it, he said he and his friends cherish the art for what it is, a labour of love and does not view it as a money-making venture.

"Many people are making Kavadi nowadays and I don't view them as competition. For me, the joy is in the creation and in the satisfaction of seeing the smile of a customer carrying a piece of our work during a Thaipusam," he shared.

He also thanked Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai, who is also State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman, for generously providing space at MPKK Paya Terubong for his team to display their Kavadis, without any charge.

Most of Pragalethen's Kavadi has a ‘vel’ (divine spear) design, the sacred weapon of Lord Murugan and it became somewhat of a signature for his work, a mark of both tradition and innovation.

Beside being famous for the rows of over 100 stalls known as ‘Thaneer Panthal’ which are festively decorated, distributing free vegetarian food and drinks, Thaipusam in Sri Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple on Jalan Kebun Bunga, here is also well-known for colourful design styrofoam Kavadi by devotees.

-- BERNAMA