Kamini and her group of dancers performing a dance depicting harmony.
It was a wet and cold evening but the guests who came dressed in their colourful sarees and traditional attire lit up the atmosphere and added warmth to the night with their presence at a Deepavali celebration.
Deepavali, literally translated as “a row of lights” and also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by Hindus worldwide.
The Malaysian Ceylonese Congress (MCC) Women’s Wing marked the event by gathering members of the community under one roof at the Malaysian Ceylonese National Community Centre in Petaling Jaya.
The night started with an opening dance by accomplished Bharathanatyam artiste Kamini Manikam and her dance group.
Besides being a visual feast, their fluid movements and message of unity through dance set the tone for the night.
The buzz was tangible as old friends greeted each other, made new friends, and enjoyed food and laughter together that night.
The emcee for the night was popular THR Raaga host Aanantha, who kept the crowd entertained with his brand of humour and interactive style.
The gathering had its profound moments as well, such as during the speech by MCC president T. Mahendranathan.
His speech struck a chord in the hearts of all those present with his appeal for unity among members of the community.
“We may be small in number but have contributed towards nation-building.
“We must remain united and work together to help bring about more developments and take the community forward,” he said.
Guest of honour Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah spoke on the importance of unity, and hoped that the community spirit that was evident that night would remain and lead to more progress and harmony.
“The women have done a fine job of bringing the community together and deserve praise,” she said.
As the night wore on, the music, good food and festive spirit put the guests in a mellow mood and some came forward to entertain the crowd, adding to the merriment.
Special guest Raja Singham was a hit when he sportingly went onstage to croon evergreen English songs.
The applause that followed was testament of the crowd’s appreciation.
Some guests also sang Tamil folk songs, much to the delight of the crowd.
Lucky draws were held throughout the night, adding a touch of excitement and guests went home a contented lot.
