IPOH, Jan 31 — The lunar eclipse has disrupted the Thaipusam celebration here this year, as only a number of Hindu devotees took part in the festiva.

A check by Malay Mail saw only a small crowd at the Kallumalai Arulmigu Subramaniar Temple in Gunung Cheroh here.

Most of the stalls and thanner panthal (refreshment stalls) which were set up along the temple are closed, and only a handful of traders are still operating during the eclipse hour, which is from 6.30pm to 11.30pm.

No chariot procession, kavadi bearers, or milk pot carriers were seen at the temple.

The Hindus consider a total solar or lunar eclipse to be an inauspicious time where no auspicious events like worshipping, praying, or visiting the temples can be carried out.

Some faith believers and religious scholars believe that the eclipse would block celestial energy from both the sunlight and moonlight from reaching Earth and its inhabitants.

The practice of avoiding prayers or vows during this period has traditionally been followed closely for years.

Last week Malay Mail reported that the temple will be opened during the eclipse hours, but there would not be any priest to accept the offering made by the devotees or conduct the pooja (prayers).

Devotee Jayaganthan Munnanday, 36, a dispatch rider said that he did not expect that the crowd would be smaller despite that fact that the Hindus observe the eclipse.

“I know some of them would not visit the temple during the eclipse, but I didn’t expect it would be bad as this.

“The road along the temple is empty and most of the stalls have closed,” he told Malay Mail when met in front of the temple.

Jayaganthan, who came with his 20 family members, said that he is aware that the temple would not conduct any prayers during the eclipse hours.

“We know that there would not be any priest in the temple for a certain period, but we just prayed from outside of the temple,” said the father of four, aged six to 13.

Another devotee Priya Sangkaran, 27, said that she came to the temple to visit the stalls as her family had already performed their prayers and vows morning today.

“I know there won’t be any prayers during the eclipse hours, even though the temple is open.

“I only came to shop some prayer items. However, most of the stalls are closed,” she said.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old Thinash Raj said that he came to the temple to meet his friends.

“Every year, me and my friends will meet at the temple here on Thaipusam and this year is no different.

“We don’t meet each other often as all of us are working outside of Perak, so we will make use of the festival season for a reunion,” he said.