A downpour did little to dampen the Tamil New Year celebration at Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur which included music, dance and food.
Beneath tents set up on the street, the crowd stayed on, clapping to the rhythm of urumi drums and watching dancers perform on stage.
“The rain came, but the people stayed. That shows how much this celebration means to the community,” said event organiser Rishikumar Vadivelu.
“Every April, Brickfields is filled with a kaleidoscope of colour to usher in the festivity.”
Held near the iconic Elephant Fountain at Jalan Tun Sambanthan (Little India), the celebration lasted till 9pm.
Food was one of the biggest draws, with visitors from around the Klang Valley coming to enjoy traditional fare.
The highlight was the banana leaf communal feast for 1,500 people, featuring 21 items.
“This year’s turnout has been very encouraging. We had about 5,000 people attend the event.
“It shows the strong support from the community and our partners,” said Rishikumar.
There was also a wide variety of Indian favourites such as vadai, murukku, laddu, jalebi, payasam and samosa.
The top draw, however, was the paniyaram made from a fermented rice and lentil batter. It is crisp on the outside and soft inside.
Along the pavement, people were seen creating intricate kolam from coloured rice, as passers-by watched.
Sheets of white paper became canvases for vibrant designs inspired by the peacock, flowers and geometry.
“Puthandu is not just a festival. It is about bringing people together, sharing our traditions and keeping our culture alive in the heart of the city,” he said.
The event was organised by Hindudharma Mamandram together with the Brickfields Rukun Tetangga, Federal Territories Residents Representative Council (MPPWP) sub-zone 4 Bukit Bintang, Brickfields business community and 40 other non-governmental organisations.
The event was officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh.
Later, Yeoh wrote on her Facebook page that although an unexpected downpour affected the lighting and sound system, festivities continued with urumi melam and kummi dance performances by the youth.
She added that, at her request, the Kuala Lumpur mayor has agreed to look into a more comfortable venue for next year’s celebration.
Gallery
Traditional dancers and drummers performing during the Tamil New Year celebration in Brickfields. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
Participants busy creating ‘kolam’ on the pavement.
Visitors getting traditional treat ‘paniyaram’.
Trying to hit the hanging pot in traditional game ‘uri adithal’.
A volunteer serving food in biodegradable leaf bowls.
