HOUSEWIFE K. Amutha of Batu Caves Indian Settlement is busiest at this time of the year as she has to clean her house and prepare traditional sweets and dishes to welcome the Festival of Lights.
Streets visited the 43-year-old and a few fellow villagers to learn about their preparations for Deepavali.
Amutha said this year the preparation for the celebration started late, about two weeks ago.
“This is because some of my family members were still busy with work until last week. Every year, I would have my relatives come over to the house and help me with some of the chores.
“However, this year is a bit different because most of them are busy with their work including my son who had just sat for his Form Three Assessment exam (PT3).
“We started baking cookies and some Indian traditional delicacies such as murukku and nei urundai (ghee balls) two weeks ago.
“Once we are done with the cookies, we will clean the house before going shopping for clothes,” she said.
Amutha said they would normally stay home on the first day of Deepavali and would only visit the relatives the day after.
“This year, we have planned something different. On the second day, my family and I as well as our relatives have decided to visit Penang. We will be there for three days. It was my husband’s niece’s idea to go to Penang.
“Each year, the only thing we do is stay home and visit relatives and friends, so we thought why not we all go out for a change.
“Normally, we would organise an open house on the first day but this time we will do it once we are back from our trip,” said Amutha who has been living there for over 20 years.
She said sometimes the expenses would go up to RM2,000 including shopping and buying essential items for the festival.
On Deepavali, she explained that an oil bath and a prayer session is a must.
She said this is usually done before sunrise. Soon after, religious songs will be played and a kolam — a traditional decoration — will be drawn on the floor using coloured grains and flanked by two oil-lit lamps.
“After the prayers and blessings from my parents, we will head for the nearest temple for special prayers,” she said.
We found another family that was also busy cleaning the house. Just a few doors away from Amutha’s house, we met A. Anbalagan, 54, who has been in the Indian settlement for 45 years.
Anbalagan, however, said he will not be celebrating Deepavali this year as his mother had passed away a year ago.
He said it is the Hindu custom that whenever a family member had passed on, the closest relatives will not celebrate Deepavali as a mark of respect.
“We want our house to be clean before we conduct prayers for my late mother and ancestors. It is usually done on the eve of Deepavali.
“My children, on the other hand, will be visiting some of their friends’ house or will be hanging out in town.
“Usually, when a family is mourning, no celebrations or visit to the temples are allowed. Back in the old days, this taboo was strictly observed but today, things have changed.
“Now, after six months of mourning, you can go to the temple and pray.”
As we were walking around, we saw another family who were busy making murukku and cookies.
V. Paramesvary, who is in her early 40s, said she is celebrating the festival on a modest scale.
Due to the rising cost of living, she and her family have decided to cut down on their expenses.
She said her family used to spend less than RM2,000 to prepare for Deepavali but this year their expenses have gone up.
“Despite spending frugally, our expenses came to over RM2,000. This is because clothes and decorative items are costlier now.
“Like any other year, we celebrate the festival at home, together with our relatives and friends,” she said.
The Batu Caves Indian settlement has been around for more than 40 years. Currently, there are 150 houses in the area.