Diwali 2.0

So, today is like a Boxing Day of sorts. The morning after, with the head feeling heavy and body feeling just as lethargic. The day after Diwali or Deepavali. For the follower who wished to be enlightened on how we Malaysians celebrate this religious occasion, here it is... Anyway, this what happened yesterday...

It was an important day for two generations - the current teenagers who reinforced the bondage of friendship with their school friends and the older generation who met with their long lost school friends. This is, of course, a day of prayers and mending broken fences in the intra-family relationship. And a day of eating, eating and more eating (Malaysians' favourite pastime and passion)!

After the mandatory morning prayers and siyakai powder and oil bath (just a drop for formality), it was breakfast time at sister-in-law's house. The spread was thosai, roti canai (local oily paratha - legend says that it got its name from Indian restauranteurs from Chennai who used to sell it, hence called roti chanai @Chennai). As you know Tamils were still referring Madras as Chennai when the rest of India and the world were calling it Madras. I heard somewhere that Madras itself was an abbreviation of what the invaders (Britishers) used to refer to the city with those hot-blooded noisy ruffians from the south - Mad Rascals! I wonder if there is any truth in the story? 

Angpow packets

Right, back to the celebrations. All family members were gathered for the feast, including a sister-in-law and family from Saskatchewan, Canada. All the kids were grinning from ear to ear with 'angpow' packets. Now, the concept of giving 'angpow' is a Chinese concept which has infiltrated into all Malaysian celebrations, be it Eidfitri, Chinese New Year or Christmas. Days before the festivities, commercial banks and supermarkets would be distributing free empty 'angpow' packets to their loyal customers for them to give these packets away (filled, of course) to children to heighten the spirit of celebration. These packets usually contain new crispy virgin notes of RM 1, RM5 or RM10. Some may include a coin with it as was good luck to give away things in pairs! And one more thing, angpow packets were colour coded for different occasions - Red for Chinese New Year, Green for Eidfitri, flexible yellow or purple for Diwali etcetera.

Secondary school buds - 28yrs later.

Back...

Then came time for preparation for lunch. Caterers rolled in their typical Indian cuisine, and so did the guests. All in all, about 100 over people were there in the house. Of course, these people did not just walk into our home for meals. Anyway nobody would be turned away if they did. The people who came were my children's schoolmates and teachers of different ethnicity as well as my long lost school friends who I have not met in 28 years since leaving secondary school. Boy, it was always enjoyable talking about the good all times and catching up on old stories... And it went on till about 4.30pm till the last guest left. You see, Malaysians are very hospitable, we do not chase away our guests. Not on Diwali, anyway. Then, a few phone calls to wish relatives far away. After a little cleaning up and freshening up, it was celebrations again - this time in my brother-in-law's house in Kajang. Before leaving the house, our house lights were brightly lit to mark the event.

It has been a tradition in my wife's family to gather as a family on Diwali evening at the eldest brother for a short prayer.

The next generation - after Y?

This short solemn occasion was followed by long merrymaking and partying with friends. Here the crowd was a real international crowd with friends from my niece's international and my sister-in-law, who is a Belgian and her liaison with the Belgian community. There was rich Moghulian food, booze, loud music and fireworks....and we left by 1.30am... People were still there. Hey, we live in an Islamic country, but we always keep our faith and continue our celebrations with no restrictions. 

pretty maids all in a row

One for the album

Oops!

What's Diwali without sparklers?