KLANG: Deepavali is just around the corner, but you would not know it at the Little India enclave at Jalan Tengku Kelana here, which seems to be deficient in festive decorations, and even a festive mood, according to traders.
Some traders have expressed disappointment over the sombre atmosphere along the main street, which is lined with two rows of over 100 pre-war shophouses.
Chairman of the Entrepreneurs Association of Little India Klang, N.P. Raman, said that Little India is normally congested with shoppers, visitors and general traffic at least two weeks before Deepavali.
"Now, it is close to a week before Deepavali celebrations, but we don't see any decorative items placed along Jalan Tengku Kelana," he told Bernama today.
Raman, who is the managing director of Thangaram Jewellers Sdn Bhd, located on the same street, said that no initiative has been taken by the Selangor state government to beautify Little India ever since it came to power in 2008.
"If there is no any action from the state government through the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) to beautify Little India, we from the association will hang buntings and banners promoting the celebration.
"We also want the street lights along Little India fitted with LED bulbs," he said.
Meanwhile, one of the founders of Sri Kumaran's Textile Sdn Bhd in Klang’s Little India, N. Ravichandran, said Deepavali carnivals taking place elsewhere in the country have siphoned customers away from his once bustling business.
"My sales have dropped significantly – up to 40 per cent – during the weekends due to the trade carnivals this year," he said.
MPK president Datuk Mohamad Yasid Bidin said they plan to hold a Deepavali open house at Jalan Tengku Kelana in efforts to enliven the Deepavali mood there.
But a check by Bernama revealed that there are no festive decorations or Deepavali-related set-ups at Klang’s Little India, save for some tents. -- BERNAMA