SEREMBAN: The Deepavali Carnival at Rangoli Walk in Jalan Dato Lee Fong Yee here is bustling with visitors, especially Hindus preparing for the festival in a few days’ time.
This year, through the Seremban City Council, the state government has extended the Deepavali carnival to Taman AST for 10 days, starting Oct 21.
State-level Deepavali Carnival adviser P. Gunasekaran said the initiative reduces congestion and facilitates preparation for the celebration.
“A total of 210 vendors are participating in the carnival this year. For the visitors’ convenience, two free shuttle buses are provided to the two locations. We are targeting to attract 50,000 visitors to this carnival,” he said.
The buses run every 10 minutes between the carnival locations at Taman AST and Jalan Dato Lee Fong Yee, saving them time looking for parking spots.
A Bernama check found visitors from various backgrounds enjoying the festive atmosphere, colourful decorations and various offerings on sale such as traditional and modern clothing, cookies and festive treats.
The carnival is further enlivened by colourful decorative lights and beautiful rangoli patterns adorning stalls along Jalan Dato Lee Fong Yee.
Visitors can purchase beautiful sarees and try a variety of traditional snacks like muruku, laddu and athirasam. Several food stalls also serve delicious Indian dishes such as idli, pani puri and biryani.
Uma Vaisanavi, 23, from Rantau, Rembau, said she is preparing early for this Deepavali to avoid the last-minute rush.
Uma said she and her mother make festive snacks like muruku, idli and fried nuts every year to save money.
V. Letchume, 34, a snacks vendor, said she bakes her own cookies and festive treats for sale at the carnival this year, unlike previous years when she sourced them from wholesalers.
“This not only helps reduce cost but also gives me a chance to offer fresher and higher-quality products to customers,” she said.
