Culture: Deeparaya
Sure, you guys probably have heard of Deepavali or Diwali. You've probably even heard of Hari Raya, or Eid ul-Fitr. BUT I bet yous (non-Malaysian overseas folks) never ever heard of this one...... Deeparaya.
Yesterday was the start of Deepavali ~ the festival of light, in Malaysia. This is probably the biggest celebration for our fellow countrymen of Indian descent. Indians make up 8% of our 24 million Malaysian population.Ramadan will end (today?) too. It will then be our Muslim friends who will end their fasting for the holy month, and celebrate Hari Raya. Muslims, whom are predominantly Malays, as well as other indigenous groups make up 58% of the population.
Due to the way different calendar systems work for each festivity, Hari Raya and Deepavali are coinciding this year - 2005. Voila ~ Deepavali + Hari Raya =
HAPPY DEEPARAYA!
Incidentally, I didn't take that picture of the Diya lights... Gosh, I wish I was there for it though, because Malaysia really lights up during the month of Ramadan, and the Hindus go all out at the temples with their rituals... and I am missing the festivities again this year... *sigh!
posted by Kurios1978 @ 12:32 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
A lovely working week thanks to the dual celeb. I could get used to working a two-day week.....honest. Aaaaah sometimes we get a glimpse into what heaven must be like.
Wow..."the festival of light" - sounds like great blogging material.
(Ever since I started the blog, it seems that's how I evaluate potential activities/scenes/stories/etc. It's weird.)
By the way, Edina, I've visited your blog a couple of times and have tried to leave a comment, but it seems to only allow people with "blogger" accounts to do so.
Edina: I guess some companies take the chance to have a ZERO work week... :P now THAT would be heaven.
g: Yeah, it used to be that the Hindus would march around the place carrying their alters all over the place (processions) during the nights... colored rice is used to create elaborate patterns on the floors of offices/malls... its a pretty sight.
Whereas for the Muslims, they have big street markets selling ALL KINDS of food in the evening for when they break fast. Its definietly something you won't see in the USA/Korea. :)
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