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Celebrating the Light - Deepavali
Squatting at a corner of King Street amid the
human bustle of Penang's Little India,
Manickam P. sorts through a giant pile of
fresh green banana leaves.
Clad in baggy khaki shorts and a
sweat-soaked singlet, he seems to take no
notice of either the automobiles that
incessantly purr past or the hundreds of
human apparitions that mill by him. The
elderly odd-job worker certainly has his work
cut out for him nowadays.
Sweating with the mid-day heat, he looks up
over the stack of leaves fanned along the
side of the road, and smiles over his work and
the flurry around. "Deepavali," he gushes, his
hands moving quickly, tearing thick spines off
the big fronds.
Manickam is not the only one in the historic
cultural enclave who is busying himself with a
smile.
Restaurants and eateries that serve Indian
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Finishing touch –
A Henna artist gingerly applying
the Indian art of tattooing onto
the hand of an excited young girl
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meals and snacks on the moist banana leaves have seen a surge in business.
Deepavalli – the Hindu festival of lights – is around the corner and an endless flow of
visitors throng the precinct to do shopping for the great day that falls on 21st
October this year.
Jewellers, textile traders, trinket sellers and dress retailers offering the latest in
Indian fashion are teeming with merry shoppers while music outlets boom out
pounding Bollywood movie songs around the area.
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Savoury Indian goodies – a must have for
every household during Festive Season.
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It is the time of the year when the community again rejoices together in Hindu
culture's most prominent festival. Deepavalli is believed to be a deeply symbolic
reminder of the conquest of good over evil, light over darkness, and commemorates
the great epic mythological incident of the divine figure Krishna slaying the evil
demon Narakasura. Some also believe that Deepavalli commemorates the revered
figure Rama's return to his kingdom after annihilating the feared demon emperor,
Ravana.
But in true Malaysian style, the festival is celebrated not just by the Hindu
community but also by all the people of the country. Well, the day will be a public
holiday after all.
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All that glitters will sell – the festive season brings
brisk business for merchants who trade in gold
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In Penang, it is customary among Hindus to organise open houses during Deepavali.
Previously the open house concept was celebrated on a mammoth scale at Little
India and at the nearby sea-facing Esplanade. The King of Malaysia himself launched
the event with his Queen. Popular Tamil movie stars were slated to travel to the
island popularly called 'The Pearl of the Orient' to entertain the crowd during the
festivities.
Indeed Deepavali will give Penang, the proud 'pearl' of the East a beautiful reason to
shine a brighter lustre not just with its celebrations, but also with the spirit of
togetherness that inevitably comes along with most festivals in the country.
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A stuffed lion toy majestically surveying the hustle and bustle
along the streets of Little India. Like the many novelty items on
display, it adds colour and a touch of qurkiness to whole scene
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Folks from various cultures and visitors from diverse countries converge on the
marvellous breeze-swept Esplanade to eat the rainbow spread of delicacies, watch
the dances, hear the music and songs, and just mingle with their Hindu brethren in a
celebration that ultimately welcomes all to partake in the yearly joy.
Like the light that envelops the darkness, Deepavali in Penang ushers a wave of
beauteous harmony that is a hallmark of the glittering Pearl of the East.
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Written by Himanshu Bhatt & photographed by Adrian Cheah
Courtesy of www.penang tourism.com.my © All rights reserved
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Return from Deepavali to Penang Festivals
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Return from Deepavali to Penang Vacations (Home Page)
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