GOMBAK: The public seized the opportunity to visit major attractions following the holiday celebration of Deepavali today.
One of the main focal points was Batu Caves, flooded with people of diverse backgrounds since early morning.
Among them were V Keshaav Rao, a 23-year-old student pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Accounting at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), shared that he and his family woke up at 5 am to embrace the celebration of Deepavali.
"At 5 am., our entire family was up and dressed in new clothes. We are very happy today because my brother just got married," he said. Rao expressed his excitement for Deepavali, saying that it's during festivals or holidays that they get to meet relatives and friends.
"During Deepavali, it's the time to be with family and friends. After Batu Caves, we will visit my brother's newlywed wife's family. We will also go to four other relatives' houses as they are hosting open houses today. It's quite rare for people to have open houses nowadays due to economic conditions, so we don't want to miss the opportunity," he said.
Also there was Siti Nordiana Bahar, who said she was eager to explore the Indian cultural heritage. The 24-year-old student pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Manufacturing at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) said that it was her first visit to Batu Caves. Hailing from Sabah, she surprised her long-lost friend with a visit to Batu Caves.
"The Deepavali celebration here is quite different from Sabah. It's more vibrant here because there's a larger Indian community. I came here to surprise my friend, as we haven't seen each other in a long time," she said.
Nordiana plans to return to Batu Caves next year to witness Thaipusam, describing it as a unique and intriguing ceremony. "I'll come back for Thaipusam next year because the event is quite unique. I want to see it," she added.
Zhen Jie Chong, a 20-year-old student pursuing a Diploma in Illustration at Dasein Academy Of Art, shared that he visited Batu Caves during the Deepavali celebration to capture interesting and diverse moments representing Malaysia's multicultural society.
"I enjoy taking pictures of celebrations and festivals in the country. Additionally, I took pictures today as it is one of our assignments," he said, mentioning that it was his second visit to Batu Caves.