MORE than 1,000 people of different religious and cultural backgrounds made their way to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s Deepavali open house held at Penang Times Square in George Town.
Organised by Lim and his state executive council members, the event featured traditional Indian dance performances and singing, which added to the festive atmosphere.
There was a long line as people queued up for the buffet spread which included briyani rice, putu mayam, fried chicken, mutton varuval, vegetarian dalca and red bean soup.
Cultural treat: A dancer performing the peacock dance at Penang Times Square Among them were Englishman Andrew Long, 26, and his friend Ösp Egilsdóttir, 23, from Iceland.
“The atmosphere is great, and the food is fantastic.
“The Indian dishes served here are different from what we can get back in Europe,” said the two, who arrived in Penang just two days earlier.
They said the open house helped them to experience Malaysia’s multi-cultural and multi-religious society.
Newspaper vendor Abdul Rahman Shaik Othman, 37, was also among the guests.
Visitors queue up for a taste of Indian food at the Deepavali open house held at the Penang Times Square “I’m taking the opportunity to have a day out with my wife and two kids.
“Usually I would be busy but today, there are no newspaper publications except for the street editions,” said Abdul Rahman.
A.S. Thiruchelvam, 55, said he also intended to attend the state-level celebration to be held at the Sungai Bakap multi-purpose hall in south Seberang Prai this Sunday from 3pm to 6pm.
“The festive open house is a good time for Malaysians to mingle and enjoy the local cuisine, all in the spirit of muhibbah,” said the crane operator from Butterworth.
The open house, which was held yesterday, lasted from 11am to 2pm.
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