On the same day

They marched along like saints goes marching in on their way to the nearby Aceh mosque  Young boys all dressed in white, students from a religious school who were here to participate in the activities that is taking place  at the mosque.

The Masjid Aceh is one of the oldest mosque in the Georgetown area and has become quite a tourist attraction. I took a break resting after using the toilet and listened to a whole lot of chanting and poojas accompanied by loud blaring Hindu trumpet and drum just like there is a Kavadi procession going on next door. This was early in the morning before the arrival of the Boys in white. it was such a irony sitting there in the serenity of the mosque compound and being bombarded by loud Hindu Pooja ceremony from next street over, heard but not seen.

I was told that a celebrity Ustaz was going to make an appearence at the mosque later in the day and goes by the name of 'Ustaz Don'. He is supposed to be popular among the young as he too is young in age.

So they sat waiting for the afternoon prayer while listening to the loud ceremonial party going on next door where a new neighbor is moving into the neighborhood. I hope for everyone's sake that they will work out the timing of who gets to pray at what time so as not to create a conflict  divine time.  We surely cannot have Muslims praying accompanied to Hindu bells.

A crowd of people were gathered on this auspicious morning where colorful flags and banana tree trunks were erected to decorate the roadside shrine in the process of being installed on this Heritage Day.

High above the entrance of what looks like a  recycling facility located on a narrow street a whole lot of activity was going on with priests chanting and bells ringing and trumpets blaring and drums tearing the air to shred announcing the inauguration  ceremony of a new shrine dedicated Lord Subrmaniam.

A make shift pyre was constructed on the roadside for the occasion where offerings was being made and the priests performed a whole lot of poojas.

From somewhere they brought the statue of the Lord to be installed int the new shrine that is now  being prepared to receive it and to be worshiped by the devotees around the Rope Walk area of Aceh Street. 

With her child in her arms she looked up with pride and rapture at the new 'Kuil' or shrine being installed in her neighborhood. Let us hope and pray that there will be a continuous harmonious coexistence into the future between the Muslims and Hindu neighbors marking this Heritage Day Event.