Restricted coconut offerings for Thaipusam

KUALA LUMPUR: This year's Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves near here will see a temporary restriction on offerings of "coconut archanai". The restriction, enforced between Jan 31 and Feb 4, was to ensure the "archanai" offering process goes smoothly, is done in hygienic conditions and is convenient to devotees. Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam chairman Tan Sri R. Nadarajah said the "archanai" offering was also time-consuming and required more manpower. However, he said devotees who came bearing coconuts as part of the "archanai' would not be turned away.