THE Deepavali Carnival cum open house held on Oct 29 by the Penang Indian Chambers (PIC) for the very first time at Little India attracted a huge crowd.
Though it was a post-Deepavali celebration, the festive mood was still in the air.
The arrival of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was warmly greeted and cheered by the massive crowd.
At the event, Lim made some important announcements concerning Little India as well as the trading community which brought smiles to all of them.
“We have made an allocation of RM1 million for the upgrading work to transform the whole of Little India,” Lim said.
“Apart from that, we also have deposited a sum of RM40,000 for tonight’s Deepavali celebration.
“The PIC had requested for the construction of a permanent arch at the gateway of Little India and we have agreed provided a proper paper with designs and costing by the chamber is submitted,” Lim added.
Responding to the request by the PIC which raised the issue of foreign traders invading Little India, Lim stated that those who wish to hold a Deepavali carnival elsewhere other than Little India need to make an appeal to the Padang Kota assemblymember Chow Kon Yeow who will review the appeal with reference to the PIC.
Upon granting the wishes, Lim in return requested the PIC to initiate direct flights from India into the state.
“As quoted by Mahatma Gandhi – Let’s be the change that we want to see – and let us all travel down the road towards prosperity, freedom, justice and democracy.
“Only when we travel together we are able to learn together, grow together and enjoy the fruits of our success together,” added Lim.
Residents from various charity homes were also served with scrumptious Indian delicacies at the event.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister 1 Prof.Dr.P. Ramasamy, Chow and PIC chairman Datuk N. Gobalakrishnan.
Earlier, on Oct 14. Chow attended another Deepavali event in Little India jointly organised by the service centre of Padang Kota constituency, Padang Kota Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) and Bridged Wanita Padang Kota.
The huge crowd that turned up at the event enjoyed the show whilst treating themselves to some delicious Indian delicacies.
Also present were exco for Housing and Town & Country Planning Jagdeep Singh, PIC board members and organizing chairman Johnny Chee.
Meanwhile, at the Dewan Sree Mariamman in Butterworth, about a thousand visitors joined in the Deepavali celebration organised by Bagan Dalam assemblymember A. Tanasekharan on Oct 29.
Visitors from all walks of life came as early as 11.30am to enjoy the sumptuous buffet lunch while being entertained by talented performers on stage.
Tanasekharan wished the residents of Bagan Dalam a happy and prosperous year ahead.
“In the last nine years, the Pakatan Harapan government has transformed Bagan Dalam from a ‘sleepy hollow’ to a vibrant and progressive town.
“I hope the people will take advantage of the development and be part of it,” he said at the event.
Tanasekharan, Penang Hindu Endowment Boards (PHEB) executive director M. Ramachandran and other VIPs also took part in lighting up the kuthu vilakku (oil lamps) at the event.