MELAKA: The Melaka-level Deepavali Open house will be organized at Padang Nyiru near Little India here in conjunction with the celebration of the festival this Sunday (Oct 27).
Organising chairman of the 2024 Melaka Deepavali Celebration open house Datuk VP Shanmugam said a variety of Malaysian-style food menus including traditional Indian food will be served to visitors who attend the banquet starting at 7.30pm.
Shanmugam who is also the State Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Exco and Chairman of MIC Melaka said the celebration ceremony will be officiated by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
"The banquet is being organized for the first time in the Vehicle Free Zone and more than 2,000 visitors, including international tourists, are expected to liven up the celebration ahead of Deepavali that falls on Oct 31.
"In addition, various arts and cultural events including performances by artists like Zubir Khan is also planned for the banquet,” he told reporters after the Deepavali New Clothes Assistance Program for Underprivileged Students at Little India here on Monday (Oct 21).
Earlier, he said a total of 75 students from 21 National Tamil Schools (SJKT) around Melaka were taken shopping for new clothes in conjunction with the celebration at the end of this month.
He said the program which was held in conjunction with the forthcoming festival through an allocation of RM20,000 is intended to help ease the burden of parents from low-income families and B40 to buy the necessities for their children.
Meanwhile, a student A. Yoshini, 11, from SJKT Ladang Diamond Jubilee, Jasin said she was excited to choose a second Raya dress which is a 'lehenga' which is one of her favourite dresses.
'Mum bought me a Raya dress before and today this is another one, I'm really happy... thank you to the contributors,” said the youngest of two siblings.- Bernama
Teacher helping student A. Yoshini, 11, from SJKT Ladang Diamond Jubilee, Jasin choose a Deepavali dress.
