Netizens and the Penang Hindu Endowment Board are not happy that bulls were used to pull the Silver Chariot, with about 15 people on it, in Penang.
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A short video clip of the alleged incident has gone viral on social media, raising the ire of netizens. In the video, the two bulls are seen pulling the chariot, which has about 15 people on board.
PHEB chairman P Ramasamy said the act was unacceptable, and was nothing but animal cruelty.
There is bad blood between the PHEB and the management of the Nattukotai Chettiar temple, which operates the Silver Chariot. Last year, the PHEB brought in a Golden Chariot to rival the Silver Chariot which has been in use for more than a hundred years. The Nattukotai Chettiar management protested the need for the Golden Chariot, as did some other Hindus.
On Jan 30, the Golden Chariot left the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple on Queen Street at 5.05am for the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani hilltop temple while the Silver Chariot left the Kovil Veedu on Penang Street at 7.15am for the Nattukotai Chettiar temple. The Golden Chariot was pulled by devotees.
Ramasamy said today the usage of bulls to pull chariots was an old traditional practice, but pointed out that in the past, the chariot was lightweight, and there were very few people on the chariot.
“But you see, this chariot is really heavy, and you have 15 people on board. For the two bulls, it is so difficult. They stagger.
“I call upon the temple management to stop using bulls in the future because this is very cruel. You cannot defend something as tradition when you are inflicting cruelty on animals.
“Please stop this once and for all. This is my advice. If they persist, the board can take action against them,” he said when contacted.
Ramasamy said in current times, the chariots can be pulled by ropes or the car. He also said that one could follow tradition, but that it must not be injurious to others.
He added that Hindus are quite aware of animal rights, and they will not put up with tradition that causes harm to animals.
“I have been made to understand that a police report has been lodged for ill-treatment and abuse of animals. Let the police investigate,” he said.
The incident took place along Jalan Utama here, where the devotees of Lord Murugan were seen lining the streets while the two bulls struggled and made their way to the Nattukotai Chettiar temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga.
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