GUA MUSANG: After two years of celebrating the Deepavali festival amid the Covid-19 pandemic, this year's celebration is more lively for Rani Gunasuntari Parasuramam's family.
The 46-year-old mother of three who lives at the People's Housing Programme (PPR) here was grateful to observe the traditions of the festivity in good health.
She and her daughter woke up at 5am to cook for family and guests.
According to Rani, she and her three children had already started making preparations to celebrate Deepavali a week before the festival.
She said they are ecstatic to celebrate the festival as many relatives and friends of different races will come to visit them.
"This year's celebration is lively after two years of celebrating Deepavali amid movement controls. The children were also very excited to be able to celebrate it with friends and relatives."
"The must-have menu for our family every Deepavali is bryani and tosei which are the children's favourite dishes," she said when met at her PPR Gua Musang home here today.
She said even if faced with an uncertain increase in the price of goods, everything can be overcome by planning expenses in advance.
"This year, we are spending based on our capability. Although the prices of goods have gone up, our expenses are based on our needs."
Rani's second daughter, Trisha Munisamy, 17, said she was excited to make the Deepavali preparations with her family.
She said the entire family make traditional Indian cakes, maruku and biscuits.
She also enjoys decorating the house, and helping her family members to make the 'kolam' using dyed rice and other items.
"We are thankful as we can observe traditions such as the oil baths in the morning, prayers and seek forgiveness from our family members during Deepavali."