On 5^th may 2012 previously, I had an opportunity to attend a ceremony celebrated by Tamil ethnicity in my hometown, which is Teluk Intan, Perak. The celebration is called Chitra Pournami. It is started since early in the morning on that day. However, I went there around three o’clock in the evening.

               Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to ask anyone because everyone is busy with their own matters. So, I just took so many pictures as I can. Based on my findings, Chitra Pournami is said to be one of the important festivals especially for females. They are meant this day for worshipping Chitragupta.

               On that day, people will worship him with chakkarai pongal and other things without salt. This action is believed will give immense pleasure to the whole family throughout the year.

               Also, they should avoid milk and milk products because they believed that Chitragupta came out from kamadhenu. Then, after finishing their ritual worshipping methods such as usual pooja and naivedhya, they are encouraged to donate rice, vegetables, dhal and dakshina in a "MURAM".

               Also some persons will draw a kolam (padi kolam) with the south side alone leaving empty as a mark of entrance to him. After finishing pooja they will immediately wipe the kolam.

               There are a lot of people in that ceremony. I can feel like strangers in my own town because there are so many Tamil people scattered here and there in that place. Malay people only can be count by fingers. Sometimes, I am ashamed to take pictures as I feel like those people looking and feeling angry towards me.           

               The surrounding at that time is really uproar and noisy. There are a lot of booths built around the kuil. They are selling various things such as jewellery, henna, things use to worshipping, dress and clothes, sweets, titbits, and so on so forth.

               Everyone is looked busy with their own activities. The sellers busy with their running business, the buyers struggle to haggle to get the best price, some of them put an effort to appeal the visitors to donate some money to be given to the temple and so on. Interestingly, in other part there are a group of people who are launching and promoting Tamil albums. Congrats!!!

         In front of the kuil, I can see a Tamil people carried a huge decorate things, maybe it is like holy place for them. Also, there is someone who is sitting on the chair exhaustedly. Amazingly, on his back side, there are plenty of sharp things impaled to his body. So scary!!!

               That is my experience regarding attend a religious ceremony and festivals as stated in the immersion project assignment. :)