Najib joins MIC's Deepavali celebration at Batu Caves

The presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at MIC's Deepavali Open House at the Batu Caves Temple compound today certainly made the celebration of the "Festival of Lights" all the more merrier.

On arrival at 10.30am, Najib, who donned a cream kurta outfit (traditional Indian attire), was welcomed by MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and other party leaders.

He then visited a special kolam (an art form using coloured rice) themed "Negaraku" before being accompanied to the stage by the VIPs to the cheers of the multi-racial crowd.

Drum beats, flute music and traditional dances further added to the merriment of the occasion which was also attended by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Transport Minister and MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, Malaysia's Special Envoy for Infrastructure to India and South Asia Tun S. Samy Vellu, Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalantahan and Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.

The guests were feted to traditional Indian dishes among others like tosai, chicken masala and briyani .

Despite it being a hot day, it did not stop the crowd which also included foreign tourists from taking in the famed temple complex which has a giant statue of Lord Murugan. Selfies and wefies were the order of the day.

Najib put the finishing touch to his visit by cutting a cake before moving to the Deepavali Open House hosted by the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the HGH Convention Centre in nearby Sentul.

Elizabeth Smith, 31, a tourist from Oxford, United Kingdom, said she was amazed to see such a celebration and the multiracial crowd.

"This is my first time in Malaysia and witnessing how Deepavali is celebrated here. Everything is so colourful and vibrant."

"I simply cannot wait to taste all the traditional food served at this open house," she told Bernama.

S. Ananthan, 70, said he and his wife came all the way from Ipoh to "feel the excitement" of the celebration at Batu Caves.

"Getting to see the Prime Minister up close was an added bonus," he said.

-- BERNAMA