Diwali or Deepavali falls on 3rd November this year but the festival was celebrated in our office on 21st November 2013. Every year, we are celebrating 4 festivals in the office, Chinese New Year (for the Chinese staff), Eidhul Fitri (for the Muslim and Malay staff), Diwali (for the Indian and Hindu's staff) and Christmas. We have a real 1 Malaysia spirits among the top management to bottom down ranking staff. It keep us united that way, a sense of belonging.
Diwali, the festival of lights is a 5 day Hindu's celebration which starts on days of wealth (dhanteras). Dhanteras means 13th day as per Hindu calendar. Diwali is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha (dark fortnight) in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin. On Dhanteras, Goddess Lakshmi (the Goddes of Wealth) is worshiped to provide prosperity and well being. Dhanteras holds special significance for the business community due to the customary purchases of precious metals on this day.
It was a colorful choice of purple and white that our staff club chose for the decoration that day. Some of the staff were very sporting to put on Indian clothes like Saree and Punjabi suits for the diwali spirits. Foods were catered from famous caterer which includes Lamb grill and Satay.
As usual, the invited performers has given marvelous shows. My favorite among all are Bangra dance and Peacock dance.
Our norm practice to share the auspicious day with the staff is by inviting children from the selected charity home where gifts and angpow (money) were distributed to them that day. The Board of Director, headed by our Chairman Tan Sri Halim seen smiling widely in below photo.
In Malaysia, Deepavali is celebrated during the seventh month of the Hindu solar calendar. It is a federal public holiday throughout Malaysia. In many respects it resembles the traditions followed in the Indian subcontinent. 'Open houses' are held where Hindu Malaysians (of all ethnic groups like Tamils, Telugus and Malayalees) welcome fellow Malaysians of different races and religions to their house for a scrumptious meal. This is a practice unique to Malaysia and shows the goodwill and friendly ties practised by Malaysians during any festive occasion.
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