(Clockwise from left) P. Angumuthu, 57, A. Koovehnraj, 23, A. Teynraj, 24, A. Haarshini, 18, S. Sanjhanaa, six, eight-year-old S. Vandana and S. Jayakumari, 49, talking to their relatives from Penang via a video call as the family was unable to return home due to the conditional MCO.
THE Festival of Lights took on a different flavour this year as celebrants resorted to out-of-the-box ways to keep the festive mood alive while adhering to the conditional movement control order (MCO).
Following travel restrictions imposed by the Government in battling Covid-19, those ushering in Deepavali managed to celebrate through video conferencing and phone calls with relatives in different states while residents in the Klang Valley opened their homes
to smaller groups of visitors in keeping with National Security Council’s MCO rules.
Though celebrated on a much smaller scale, the staple Deepavali must-haves such as murukku, achimurukku, ghee balls, mutton peratal, thosai, dalcha, chicken curry and ghee rice were among dishes served at open houses where friends and family were welcomed.
Some also kept up the tradition of visiting temples on Deepavali day while adhering to strict standard operating procedures.
The skies were a riot of colours too on the eve of Deepavali as the horizon was set ablaze with a display of fireworks in different parts of the Klang Valley.— Photos: SS ANESAN, RAJA FAISAL HISHAN, AZLINA ABDULLAH, IZZRAFIQ ALIAS and FAIHAN GHANI
Celebrants find different ways to usher in Deepavali
Fireworks galore on the eve of Deepavali in Shah Alam.
K. Kogilavani, 38, (right) making murukku for Deepavali with her family members — (from left) N. Purnimah, M. Mahadevi, S. Subashri, K.Bawani and S. Subanu at the Kampung Indian settlement in Batu Caves.
A woman offering prayers on the morning of Deepavali at the Sree Veerahanuman temple in Brickfields.
Devotees at the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Temple in Section 7, Shah Alam, wore masks while praying on Deepavali morning.
P. Haniska Ragu, six, feeding pigeons at the Sri Subramaniar temple in Batu Caves on the second day of Deepavali.
Did you find this article insightful?
