I commend the organisers of this year's Thaipusam for the mostly smooth festival ("Live music gives lift to Thaipusam celebration"; Jan 25).

I hope that next year, they can improve the flow of devotees carrying the pots of milk into the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in Tank Road. This year, we were held up for about an hour near the entrance of the temple.

Another issue I hope the authorities will address is the group of men and women who gather each year at the tail end of the route leading to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, and drink, smoke and dance in an unruly way.

This creates a nuisance and is an embarrassment to the majority of Hindus who participate peacefully and in an orderly way.

I hope the police will investigate and remove this discourteous group which treats Thaipusam as a carnival.

Perhaps the authorities can ban drinking and smoking in this area.

Ravi Govindan