Gurney Plaza welcomes Deepavali with dance, colours and festive goodies

Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, came early at Penang’s Gurney Plaza when the mall put up a cultural show of Indian dances to entertain shoppers.

Performers from the Temple of Fine Arts re-enacted the story of light overcoming darkness to explain the significance of the celebration to Hindu devotees and and the traditional Indian dances.

Light refreshments such as the Indian traditional snack ‘vadai’, curry puffs and tea were served to kick off the festive celebration.

Peter Chan (fourth from right) and Zairil (fifth from right) with the dancers at Gurney Plaza.

The mall management has decorated its main and side entrances with two elephant statues that prove to be popular with shoppers taking photographs and selfies with it.

Bukit Bendera Member of Parliament Zairil Khir Johari, who launched Gurney Plaza’s Deepavali celebration, praised the mall management for doing a good job in fostering understanding among the different communities by celebrating all major festivals in the country.

With him was Gurney Plaza mall manager Peter Chan.

“Deepa” means light while “avali” means row of light. Other than Hindu, the celebration, which falls on October 29 this year, is also observed by Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists.

The dancers from the Temple of Fine Arts.

The festival is celebrated with a traditional oil bath followed by prayers and the seeking of blessings from family elders; wearing of new clothes and the partaking of delicious festive delicacies.

Apart from colourful decorations, firecrackers were let off while ‘kolam’ (the art of drawing using rice flour) competition staged.