In Kelantan, Deepavali comes with food, festivities and a thick local dialect

In Kelantan, Deepavali is celebrated with a delightful blend of food, festivities, and a distinctive local dialect. Thanaletchumi, a 48-year-old Indian community member, prepares her home for the festival while blending Tamil, Indian food, and festive customs with the warmth of Kelantan culture. Her thick dialect often makes people assume she is Malay, but Thanaletchumi emphasizes that the dialect is part of her identity as an Indian in the state.

Her mother-in-law and son help her prepare for Deepavali, which begins two months before the celebration with shopping for clothes, planning decorations, and sourcing ingredients. Two weeks before the festival, the house undergoes a thorough cleaning, followed by the preparation of traditional snacks like murukku, nei urundai, ghee balls, and athirasam. On Deepavali morning, the family enjoys thosai served with mutton or chicken curry.

The open-house spirit of Thanaletchumi’s home has created memorable experiences, with Malay neighbors assisting during busy years. Her husband, M S Murugaih, believes that involving children in the celebrations is crucial for preserving their cultural heritage. Their son, M Sai Siddhart, who is the only Indian student at his secondary school, enjoys the simple pleasure of family gatherings during Deepavali.

Thanaletchumi's Deepavali celebration represents the harmonious coexistence of Kelantan culture and Indian heritage through food, hospitality, and the joy of sharing.