National-level celebration expected to draw thousands
PUTRAJAYA: About 5,000 visitors from all walks of life are expected to attend the national-level Deepavali celebration, which will be held at Little India, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, on Nov 14.
National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (pic) said the celebration, themed “The Light of Deepavali: Fostering Unity”, is organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
He added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to attend the event, which will run from 8am to 11.30pm, Bernama reported.
“Deepavali is one of the festivals that showcases the beauty and richness of the cultural heritage of the Malaysian community,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Aaron said a variety of engaging activities had been lined up, including cultural performances and traditional Indian dances, recitals featuring classical musical instruments such as the veenai and mridangam, demonstrations of martial arts such as silambam, kalaripayattu and karra samu, as well as a fashion show.
He added that the celebration would also feature a “Rumah Kami” pavilion showcasing the diverse heritage and traditions of the Malay, Chinese, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Gujarati and Malayali communities.
The event will also feature performances by local artistes and singers, including Yogi B and Natchatra, Buggimaan, Havoc Brothers, Zubir Khan, Gayathri Thandapany, Kashmir Stone and Kumaresh.
Aaron said Deepavali was not merely a religious celebration but also an opportunity for people of different ethnicities to get to know, understand and respect one another’s unique qualities.
“It is this spirit that must continue to be strengthened in our efforts to build a united nation, one that possesses a distinct national identity and is rooted in the values of togetherness.
“Let us continue to embrace our diversity as a source of strength, our heritage as a point of pride, and unity as the foundation for nation-building.”
