Melaka Chetti community keeps Deepavali traditions alive

Melaka Chetti community observes Deepavali celebrations in the heritage village Kampung Chetti with a festive atmosphere of goodwill and togetherness. Despite only 30 families remaining, their unique traditions and efforts to preserve their identity - dating back to the Melaka Sultanate era - highlight their commitment to maintaining their culture. Unlike other Hindu communities, the Chetti community delivers prasadam and visits homes to bless families.

However, public understanding of the community's history and culture remains limited, leading to misconceptions about their identity. Many believe the Chetti community to be Muslim due to their Malay language and limited Tamil proficiency, despite various family compositions. Wenila Nadarajan, a 46-year-old who runs a Chetti food business, plays the role of a storyteller to answer public inquiries about the Chetti people.

Wenila hopes to expand awareness-raising efforts, including incorporating the Chetti community's story into school history textbooks, to ensure younger generations become familiar with the community. However, the village's future is threatened by rapid development. Shanmugam Raja, a 57-year-old native, urges protection from uncontrolled construction, emphasizing the importance of preserving the settlement to maintain the Chetti community's culture.

Shanmugam notes that living together in close proximity and participating in cultural practices makes it easier for members to pass down traditions.

The community's concerns also extend to younger generations who move away and return with a "guest" mentality, failing to take part in customs and traditions. Shanmugam emphasizes that this shift could lead to the loss of cultural practices over time.