MARAN: The 131-year-old Sri Marathandavar Aalayam temple in Sungai Jerik near here has reopened after floods hit the premises twice in three days last month.
The first flood on Jan 4 saw the temple compound under 1.5m of water, and the second flood on Jan 6 was worse, with water as deep as 3m submerging some areas.
Temple president Datuk K. Tamil Selven said in both floods, Sungai Jerik, which flows behind the temple, burst its banks following heavy rain.
"The temple is being renovated and luckily, the water did not enter the building. However, the temple building was cut off on all sides by murky water and even the priests' quarters behind the temple were affected, forcing them to temporarily stay elsewhere.
"Water has receded and the temple compound has been cleaned. Due to the temple renovation, the daily pooja (prayer) is conducted at a hall in the temple compound," he said.
Tamil Selven said roads near the temple that were closed during the floods had been reopened.
He said despite the floods, renovation and painting works in the temple building were going on ahead of the Maha Kumbhabhisekam (a consecration ceremony) scheduled in June this year.
The octagon-shaped temple, which is surrounded by an oil palm plantation, attracts some 500,000 Hindu devotees annually during the annual "Panguni Uthiram" festival, dubbed the "mini-Thaipusam" between March and April.
Unprecedented major floods in 2021, saw the temple enduring losses estimated at more than RM1 million after murky water entered the temple building, hostel, workers' quarters, cafeteria, kitchen and priest's quarters.
Those planning to visit the temple and require further information can contact the temple office at 019-8128050.