Lower Thaipusam turnout leads to wasted food
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23:
For the first time in 40 years, the Divine Life Society (DLS) has actually been forced to throw away the free food it gives out during the Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves. The DLS ashram, located next to the Batu Caves temple, prepared food for 20,000 people but the lower-than-expected turnout meant some of the food would have been wasted.
DLS Malaysia branch president Swami Guhabhaktananda said the ashram prepared only 1,800kg of vegetables from its usual allocation of 4,500kg.“It left us with a large balance of unused vegetables which we then distributed so that it would not go to waste,” he said.Guhabhaktananda said he estimated that there was a 25 per cent drop in the number of people who attended this year’s celebrations.
The lacklustre crowds, however, did not dampen the spirit of goodwill among the DLS volunteers as they bustled between tables serving ladles of freshly cooked vegetarian fare. More than 100 volunteers pledged their time over the two-day celebration to help coordinate the feeding of devotees.
Around 100 Hindu devotees from Hawaii were also present on their first visit to Malaysia, with many enthralled at the different format of celebrations practiced in the country.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/NewsBreak/20080123192643/Article/index_html
For the first time in 40 years, the Divine Life Society (DLS) has actually been forced to throw away the free food it gives out during the Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves. The DLS ashram, located next to the Batu Caves temple, prepared food for 20,000 people but the lower-than-expected turnout meant some of the food would have been wasted.
DLS Malaysia branch president Swami Guhabhaktananda said the ashram prepared only 1,800kg of vegetables from its usual allocation of 4,500kg.“It left us with a large balance of unused vegetables which we then distributed so that it would not go to waste,” he said.Guhabhaktananda said he estimated that there was a 25 per cent drop in the number of people who attended this year’s celebrations.
The lacklustre crowds, however, did not dampen the spirit of goodwill among the DLS volunteers as they bustled between tables serving ladles of freshly cooked vegetarian fare. More than 100 volunteers pledged their time over the two-day celebration to help coordinate the feeding of devotees.
Around 100 Hindu devotees from Hawaii were also present on their first visit to Malaysia, with many enthralled at the different format of celebrations practiced in the country.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/NewsBreak/20080123192643/Article/index_html
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