There are not many places in Malaysia with a concentration of places of worship such as temples, churches and mosques in one location.
One standout example is Brickfields, also known as Little India, in Kuala Lumpur. It is also referred to as a “Divine Location” because many places of worship, some built more than a century ago, are situated here.
The 1895-founded Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple and Sri Sakthi Karpaga Vinayagar Temple are situated on Jalan Berhala. Not far from here, along Jalan Scott, is the Sri Kandaswamy Kovil that is over 100 years old.
Both the Buddhist Maha Vihara and the Sri Kandaswamy temples reflect the influence of the Ceylonese in Brickfields who were brought into the country before the Second World War to work on the Malayan Railways.
Showcasing rich Sri Lankan Tamil architecture, the Sri Kandaswamy temple of today is also a tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur. It provides religious services like housewarming and baby full-moon ceremonies. The temple’s adjacent Kala Hall holds wedding ceremonies and cultural events.
Then there is the 50-year-old Three Teachings Chinese Temple along Jalan Thambillay. The three teachings reflect the long history, mutual influence and complementary teachings of the three belief systems of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.
Churches of different denominations are also found in Brickfields. The larger churches are the Holy Rosary Church (construction was completed in 1904), Our Lady of Fatima and the Zion Lutheran Church built in 1924.
Most of the churches are located along Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad. There is also an Indian orthodox church called St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral in Jalan Tun Sambanthan Satu.
Also situated along Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad is a small mosque called Madrasatul Gouthiyyah attended mostly by Indian Muslims.
Year-round, people of various religions congregate in Brickfields to perform acts of devotion, veneration or religious study.
Hindu festivals celebrated every year include Deepavali (also known as Diwali) which is a festival of lights, and Thaipusam. On Deepavali day, Hindus don new clothes before performing prayers at home and in temples.
For Deepavali shopping, Brickfields is a treasure trove for Indian ethnic clothing and jewelleries, sweetmeats, décor and prayer items, and flower garlands. Shoppers and visitors also soak in the festive atmosphere amidst vendors blasting Bollywood music.
Hindus regard Thaipusam as the biggest festival after Deepavali. Thaipusam is a day of thanksgiving to Lord Subramaniam for answered prayers, and a day of penance. Devotees perform ceremonial acts. Flowers and fruits are offered at many different shrines (the country’s most famous shrine is at the Batu Caves).
Meanwhile, Wesak Day on May 21 is a major Buddhist festival. At the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple, devotees offer prayers to Lord Buddha and seek Buddha’s blessings. The “Bathing the Buddha” ceremony is a part of the celebration to purify the mind from greed and to practise kindness. In the evening, a procession of floats from the temple to the city streets and back is held.
For visitors to Little India during these festivals, be prepared to mix with the crowd!
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