Deepavali a time to be with families

KUALA LUMPUR: IN a multicultural country like Malaysia, married couples of different ethnic and religious backgrounds will find great joy in learning about each other’s traditions, especially during festive periods.

Retired teacher Anna Cherubin, 60, who is a Christian of Chinese, Indian and Myanmar parentage, said she and her Hindu husband always looked forward to spending Deepavali together.

“We have been married for 36 years and we always look forward to spending the festival as a family,” she said.

“Family reunions are important for us. Days before the celebration, I will prepare special dishes and traditional cookies,” she told the New Straits Times.

Asked if the celebration this year would be different from previous years, she said the family had decided to be more prudent.

“We try not to spend too much because the prices of goods have gone up.

Anna Cherubin and her husband always look forward to spending Deepavali together. PIC COURTESY OF ANNA CHERUBIN

“However, we make sure that we get enough mutton for our special dish, which we also serve to guests.”

She said when her two daughters were young, the couple used to allocate a bigger budget for the celebration.

“But now, there are only two of us in the house, so we make do with a smaller budget for the celebration, mainly for food.”

She recalled the time when the price of mutton was only RM20 per kilogramme.

“But now, the price has gone up and most recently, I was told that it was RM46 per kg.

“Imagine when you have to buy two or three kg, not including other ingredients,” she said.

For Shagambari Parthiban, 24, a university student from Kulim, Deepavali was a time for family.

“My family will usually throw a huge feast because there are so many of us, including relatives,” she said.

Checks by the New Straits Times at Batu Caves here yesterday saw many Hindu devotees offering prayers.

For trader Ganisen Krishnan Samy, 50, who sells jasmine flowers, it was a norm to see people coming to offer morning prayers at their temples before heading back home to celebrate Deepavali with their families.

A stall owner and his assistants preparing flowers to sell to devotees at Batu Caves yesterday. PIC BY MUHD ZAABA ZAKERIA

“Normally, we will go to the temple to pray first. We will pray from 7.30am to 2pm. On that day, my stall operates only until afternoon.

“In the morning, my workers and I will take turns manning the stall and performing our prayers.

“After that, we will close shop and go home to be with our families for the celebration.”

He said there was nothing extra special about the celebration this year, although he noticed that people were more careful with their spending.

“My family and I also decided not to spend too much. Nevertheless, it will still be a great celebration,” he said.

Another vendor, who wanted to be known only as Vimala, said the celebration this year would be a moderate one for her.

“My business will operate as usual in the morning and we will close after prayers.”