Malaysia has unveiled a 140-ft Lord Murugan statue, claimed to be the tallest standing idol in the world of the Hindu deity.
The statue, built by 15 sculptors from India for over three years, was unveiled by Malaysia’s Works Minister and the Malaysian Indian Congress President S Samy Vellu at the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves on January 29.
The statue, at the foothill of the temple is made up of 1,550 cubic metres of concrete, 250 tonnes of steel bars and 300 litres of gold paint brought in from Thailand, according to Kuala Lumpur-based media reports today. It has been built at an estimated cost of 666,215 dollars.
Sri Subramaniar Temple officials said they plan to seek an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world.
The Batu Caves Temple is the most popular Hindu shrines in Malaysia, which was discovered in 1892, 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur.
Lord Murugan, the son of Shiva nad Parvati, is one of the divine powers in the Hindu pantheon of Gods. More than a million Malaysian Hindus celebrate Thaipusam at the three caves in the limestone hill every year, climbing 272 steps.
Thaipusam falls on a full moon day in the auspicious 10th Tamil month when the constellation of Pusam, the star of well-being, rises over the eastern horizon.
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