Klang's Little India bustling despite rain ahead of Deepavali

Klang's Little India remained lively despite impending rain before Deepavali celebrations on November 8th. A Bernama survey revealed the enclave, home to more than 100 shops, thronged with shoppers purchasing clothing, jewelry, food, and prayer items for the Festival of Lights. Many visitors strolled through the district with their families over the weekend, while merchants offered discounts.

Engineer S. Meiyarasan, 28, explained his family opted for last-minute shopping while monitoring Klang's weather forecasts due to the ongoing northeast monsoon season. He emphasized that checking weather updates before traveling helped ensure a smooth shopping trip for essential festive items, particularly clothes and food. S. Kalaiselvi, 55, described Little India as a one-stop destination for Deepavali preparations, noting that shopping there had been a family tradition for 20 years.

She preferred in-person shopping to online purchases, preferring to check the quality and material, especially for festive attire such as sarees and dhotis for her family. Despite the rain, which could cause inconvenience, completing preparations was crucial for a festival celebrated once a year, she said. N. Ravi Chandran, 62, owner of Sri Kumaran Textile, extended his store's opening hours until midnight to accommodate high customer demand, even during afternoon rain.

Mornings were typically clear or hot, but afternoon rain necessitated keeping the shop open until midnight, with nearly 2,000 customers visiting on weekends. The festive atmosphere in the final week before Deepavali had become lively, with discounts ranging from 30 to 50 percent. Former factory worker M. Sarkunan, 66, praised Little India as his preferred shopping destination due to its affordable prices, particularly for B40 households buying clothes and festive treats like murukku and suji biscuits.

He explained that prices here were more than 10 percent cheaper, helping him save before returning to celebrate at his child's house in Kulim, Kedah.