KUCHING: This year’s Deepavali celebration was not just another festival for Laura Zeeta Pellane from Padawan - it marked her very first as a newlywed.
Married to V. Janagaraj, 24, in August, Laura, 23, found herself experiencing the festival of lights in a way that was entirely new in the warmth of her husband’s village in Kuching.
The shift from celebrating familiar holidays like Gawai and Christmas to Deepavali in her husband’s home was a whirlwind of emotions.
"For the first time, I’m celebrating a different culture, surrounded by my husband’s family, and it’s so special,” she said when met after prayers at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple on Monday (Oct 20).
What set the celebration apart was not just the setting, but the fusion of cultures. Janagaraj, who is of Indian and Bidayuh heritage, ensures their Deepavali feast blends the best of both worlds.
Guests were treated to a delicious mix of traditional Indian curries and rich Bidayuh chicken dishes like ayam pansuh.
For Janagaraj, Deepavali in Sarawak as a minority in the state took on a deeper meaning as he was able to share his heritage with his wife and community.
"We may not have a public holiday like in Peninsular Malaysia, but the spirit of the festival is alive and well here. Having my wife experience the traditions with me makes it all the more meaningful,” he said.
Janagaraj did not just help with the cooking; together, he and Laura decorated their home with colourful kolam and glowing oil lamps.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old teacher trainee S. Aishwarrya, who is celebrating Deepavali for the first time in Sarawak, said the experience was unlike any other.
"It’s exciting, but it’s a little strange,” she said, recalling how back in Penang, the whole town would be on holiday for Deepavali.
"Here, it’s still a regular workday. It would be even more meaningful if it were a public holiday in Sarawak,” she said. – Bernama
