Sashidaran Gunathevan
Four official Deepavali open houses are set for Saturday, 14 November, almost a week after the festival itself. Three are on Malay Mail’s list, and the fourth is in Negeri Sembilan, Bernama reported. All four follow weeks of Deepavali bazaars and festive displays.
They are the national celebration in Brickfields and the state events in Klang, Ipoh and Seremban. The Brickfields event starts first, at 8am. Seremban follows from 11am, Ipoh from 2pm and Klang from 6pm.
Overall, here is where and when each event takes place, and what Johor and Melaka held earlier.
Four open houses on 14 November
The national celebration is at Little India, Brickfields, and is organised by the National Unity Ministry. Moreover, it is a day-long event that starts at 8am. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to officiate.
The Selangor state government holds its Deepavali open house at Dataran Klang @ Padang Chetty in Klang. It starts at 6pm. In addition, some 10,000 visitors are expected, and the event is open to the public.
In Ipoh, the Perak state government hosts an open house from 2pm at Stadium Indera Mulia. Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah will grace the event. Some 20,000 people are expected, and the programme includes traditional performances.
In Seremban, the Negeri Sembilan state government holds its open house at the Seremban City Council Hall. It runs from 11am to 4pm, and about 7,000 visitors are expected. Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim said the state has raised its Deepavali carnival allocation to RM70,000 from RM30,000. Likewise, dishes from the state’s communities will be served, especially traditional Indian cuisine.
What Johor and Melaka held earlier
Johor held its state-level Deepavali celebration on 2 November. More than 2,000 members of the Indian community took part. The event was described as lively and full of goodwill.
A Deepavali bazaar with more than 80 stalls ran alongside it. The state government set aside RM3.35 million for 40,000 food baskets and the open house. Moreover, another RM1.87 million went to the Jualan Kasih Johor programme, which offered 54,000 Kombo Kasih sets.
Melaka marked Deepavali on 7 November with its Melaka Bila Larut Malam night programme. It took place in the Banda Hilir vehicle-free zone and drew thousands of visitors from Melaka and outside the state. Likewise, performances and songs followed a Deepavali theme, and Melaka Historic City Council Mayor Datuk Shadan Othman joined the crowd.
Visitors could also take photos with the council’s mounted tourism unit. However, both events are over, so they are not among the four above. Therefore, anyone who missed them can still choose one of the open houses on 14 November.
Before you go to the open houses
The reports did not give entry fees, parking details or road closures for the events. Therefore, check with the organisers for the latest details. Brickfields and central Klang are usually busy during festive weekends, so allow extra time.
Weather is another factor. The Klang Valley has seen flash floods and a high tide warning this month. Therefore, check the forecast and bring an umbrella for the outdoor events.
Meanwhile, Deepavali itself falls on Sunday, 8 November. Monday is a replacement public holiday in several states, and the Penang ferry is free for Malaysians on Deepavali day. In Singapore, the Indian Heritage Centre’s Deepavali open house at Campbell Lane runs until 8 November.
In short, the four official Deepavali open houses all fall on 14 November, so most people will pick one. Confirm the time and venue with each organiser before you go.
Yalinie Mathan
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