Thaindian News

George Town, Sep. 29 (ANI): With only three weeks remaining, ‘Deepavali’ preparations are going on in full swing in Malaysia’s ‘Little India’.

Colourful banners proclaiming “Deepavali sales” are strung across the streets in the Penang’s Indian enclave, which encompasses Market Street, Penang Street, Queen Street and King Street, The New Strait Times reports.During this festive season, the whole area takes on a carnival atmosphere as temporary stalls selling colourful Indian sweets, delicacies, clothing and decorative items are set up by the roadside.Shopkeepers who have been receiving a steady stream of shoppers during the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri break hoped the situation would continue until Deepavali.”Business was rather slow last year. I hope it will be better this time around,” Thanaraj, who specialises in muruku mixture, said.Thanaraj, who has been operating there for the past 20 years, sells jelebi, laddu, pal kova, oma podi and satha alwa, among other Indian delicacies.Bank manager S.V. Rajoo, 53, was spotted with his two daughters, Darshini, 22, and Hemaa, 18, shopping for sarees for the girls at the Maya Silk Centre in Jalan Penang.He has been a regular customer at the textile shop for the past 15 years.”I like coming here because the workers know what I want. My preparations for Deepavali actually started three months ago when I bought a few things for the house,” he said. Sara Morrison, 28, of Australia, found the atmosphere in Little India electrifying.”It is so colourful. I haven’t seen anything like this before. I am glad I came at the right time. I have yet to see what the traders are offering,” she said.The Little India enclave has remained Penang’s vibrant Indian cultural hub since its establishment in the early 1900s by merchants from India. The place has retained its old world charm ever since. (ANI)