KUCHING: There is much anticipation in the air as Indians of the Hindu faith celebrate Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights today.
Preparations are already in full gear as early as 6am as they get ready to go to the temples to pray at 7 am.
It is a yearly affair, according to V Sahundararaju who is the president of Hindu Temple Association Kuching.
He said on the morning of Deepavali, a special prayer would be said and light refreshments would be served at the temple and they would be attending to the devotees there.
“Prayers begin at 7am until 7.30am and the devotees will come any time before 10am. They (the devotees) would have the prayers with their families and then they would go back home,” he said when contacted by New Sarawak Tribune today.
Sahundararaju explained that after a visit to the temple to worship and pray, devotees would visit their elders’ houses and then head back home to continue their celebrations.
With regards to the government granting unrecorded leave in conjunction with the Deepavali festival to federal civil servants of Hindu faith serving in Sarawak with effect from Nov 9, Sahundararaju said it is a good move. However he still appreciates if the state government would give the Hindu community a public holiday.
“I think all the states in Malaysia have public holidays, of course I understand Hindus in the state are a minority, of course as government servants we are entitled for unrecorded leave.
“But what happens now, most of the people are going for private sectors and private sectors may not recognise this. (Therefore) a public holiday is the best thing, even Sabah is having a public holiday,” he said.
Adding further, he said efforts have been made to approach ministers to request for a public holiday for Deepavali but Sahundararaju is still puzzled that such a public holiday has yet to be gazetted.
Meanwhile, New Sarawak Tribune also interviewed Muniandy, 66, or better known as Andy to his friends.
Andy was at the Hindu temple making preparations for Deepavali, and said he was very happy that the government granted unrecorded leave for federal civil servants of Hindu faith.
“I am very happy, we’ve been trying to get a holiday like that especially for the Hindus, because a lot of people are working, so when we have Deepavali, they can’t make it.
“So, thank you to the government, because Deepavali is usually being celebrated in Kuching with my family here,” he said.
