KAJANG: Religious differences have not stopped Siti Nur Taqifah Mala Abdullah from celebrating Deepavali with her beloved family each year for the past 27 years.
Siti Nur Taqifah Mala, 48, said that it has become an annual tradition for her, her husband Asmadi Abdul Kadir, 47, and their three children to celebrate the Indian community's major festival with her family.
She shared that her husband's family also joins in, visiting her parents' home in Jalan Reko here since she married her husband in 1997.
"Every year, we gather with my extended family to celebrate Deepavali. Though I chose to convert to another faith, our relationship remains strong. Both my family and my in-laws get along well and are very accepting of each other.
"My in-laws join us for the celebration, and my mother-in-law even brings rendang to share with everyone," she said, celebrating at her family's home today.
She expressed joy at being able to celebrate with her parents, M Soronoe, 75, and S Subramaniam, 76, who have never distanced themselves from her but supported her choice to embrace Islam at 20 in 1996.
"Every year, I make preparations by selecting outfits, and this year, my husband and son are wearing kurtas, while my daughter is dressed in a sari and Punjabi suit, and I'm wearing a Punjabi suit gifted by my sister.
"I also cook various dishes to bring to the family gathering as we practise a 'potluck' concept. Today, my husband prepared five dishes, including prawn in coconut gravy, egg kurma, sweet and sour chicken, and sambal tofu.
"At my family's home, we have traditional dishes such as tosei, idli, biryani rice, chicken and lamb curry, mixed vegetables, and traditional Indian sweets like ladoo, along with murukku and a variety of other treats," she said.
The civil servant added that all dishes prepared by her family are made from halal ingredients, as most of the guests are Muslim.
"I usually go to my family's home the day before the celebration to help with house cleaning and cooking before returning home to prepare my own dishes.
"I then return to my family's home after the family members come back from the temple for the religious ceremony, and we enjoy the meal and spend time together," she added.