Kota Baru's oldest Hindu temple draws devotees on Deepavali

KOTA BARU: The 22-year-old Arulmigu Sivasubramaniyar Alayam temple in Jalan Hamzah here continues to draw devotees seeking blessings and fulfilling religious vows as Hindus celebrated Deepavali today.

The temple, regarded as the oldest Hindu temple in the district, was bustling with activity from 7am, with about 100 families expected to visit throughout the day.

Temple president Datuk Subramaniam Nacihaippan said the temple had been a focal point for the local Hindu community since its establishment in 2004.

"The temple has been serving the community for more than 20 years, and Deepavali is one of the most meaningful occasions for devotees to come together to offer prayers," he said.

The temple, whose foundation stone was laid by former Kelantan Menteri Besar, the late Tan Sri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, held prayers throughout the day, with two priests overseeing the religious ceremonies.

Today's prayers were handled by temple priests Annamalai Tamilselvan, 64, and Annamalai Subbiah, 50.

The morning prayers continued until 1pm before the temple resumes its religious activities from 7pm to 10pm, with special prayers for devotees seeking the fulfilment of their wishes.

Temple deputy president Vijaya Kumar Perunal said Deepavali was also an occasion for families to reunite and uphold their religious traditions.

Among the devotees was Dr Navanithan Ramakrishnan, who travelled from Kuala Lumpur with his wife, Dr Shri Rajeswari, and their two-year-old son, AdvaayaaRaam Navanithan.

The family returned to Kota Baru to celebrate Deepavali with their family.

"We came back to celebrate Deepavali together with the family and also to seek blessings at the temple," he said.

For resident R. Hareetaran, visiting the temple with his family during Deepavali has become an annual tradition.

He brought his wife, Shaarada Bairavi Jeyabalan and their four-year-old son, Vidhur to offer prayers.

Hareetaran said the annual visit was an important way to introduce his young son to Hindu practices and ensure that the tradition continued across generations.

"For my family and other devotees, the temple remains more than a place of worship, serving as a gathering point for the Hindu community in Kelantan to celebrate Deepavali, strengthen family ties and seek blessings for the year ahead," he added.