
JOHOR BARU: It was love at first sight for Victoria Lee and Balasubramani M. Naidu when they met while working at a hotel in Penang.
But their relationship still needed her future mother-in-law's approval.
Balasubramani's mother wanted to ensure the couple were compatible, so she had their horoscopes read.
As it turned out, Lee and Balasubramani's love, spanning two cultures, was written in the stars. Fifteen years on, the couple, and their cultures, are inseparable.
Every celebration is a marriage of cultures for Lee, 36, and Balasubramani, 48. The couple are blessed with son Taovin, 14, daughter Leelevyne, 7, and adopted daughter, Aeriel Lee Pakdeelon, 3.
The family's Chinese New Year celebrations would see a house decked with cherry blossoms and spring couplets, lion dances, mandarin oranges, and the irresistible aroma of curries wafting from the kitchen.
"CNY in our household is a vibrant mix of red and gold," Lee told the New Straits Times.
"We serve Indian dishes, including curries, and they are popular with our relatives and guests. We also serve traditional Chinese dishes."
Lee said her in-laws, who are Hindus, also join the family for lion dance performances, and even give ang pows.
The extended family, which includes relatives and friends of other faiths also join in the celebrations.
"Religious beliefs also play a role in shaping our celebrations. We also light oil lamps for prosperity. It's a beautiful blend of traditions," she shared.
The family doesn't just celebrate Chinese New Year and Deepavali.
"We celebrate Hari Raya, and Christmas, too. As a teacher, I understand that these celebrations serve as a bridge, uniting diverse communities, with elements of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and even Western traditions weaved into the celebrations."
During Deepavali, Lee said the family would wear both Indian and Chinese traditional costumes.
"In mixed families, festivals become platforms for teaching acceptance and respect.
"These celebrations are about preserving our heritage while we create new traditions that resonate with everyone."
She added that festive celebrations were important to all Malaysians.
"All religious celebrations are a reminder of the unity in diversity that defines Malaysia. The festivities are more than a celebration of tradition. They are a celebration of togetherness," she said.