Deepavali Saturday

I had a chance to celebrate Deepavali in Malaysia last Saturday with my Indian friends. What made me interested most is the way most Malaysians celebrate such festivals. They try to make it simple and just try to enjoy the day.

My chinese colleagues picked me up at my hostel at around 3:15 in the afternoon (i thought I'd be having a bad day, they were supposed to pick me up at 11am) then we went straight to Seellan's place. I thought, like us Filipinos, they'd be having lots of foods, alcohol and all that... so I prepared myself for that day. But..

Seellan offered us some Indian biscuits and beer. Then he prepared us a good 'calderetang kambing', which tasted so good... chicken curry and java rice. That's it and I actually ate with my hands... hahaha!

With Seellan and my chinese friends

I didn't asked but Seellan explained that it's the way they celebrate. They are just happy having their friends come over to their place and mingle. So when Hariraya is celebrated by the Malay muslims, they will also go their muslim friends' house and mingle (even if they are not invited)... and so with the chinese new year and christmas... 'most important is that you have friends...' he told me.

Cool...

At 8pm, I went to another indian's place and celebrate with his family. I was just the only one he expected that night though. Dr. Panchal is a pure Indian by the way. We had some veggie foods and some just been sent by her mom from India, a pepsi gold and some fancy fireworks outside their flat...

Dr. Panchal with his wife and daughter

It was a good day. A good Deepavali Saturday.