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Celebrating Deepavali without family

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Balachandran (right) interact with his colleagues in his house.

MUKAH: “Of course I miss the Deepavali celebration with my family in my hometown. My mother would apply sesame oil me to cool my body. I miss those moments.”

This was Balachandran Jasangar, 31, voicing his yearning as he was supposed to return with his wife Rohini Devi Apparao, 28, to celebrate Deepavali this year at Kampung Belakang Pasar in Bidor, Perak. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the plan was cancelled.

Balachandran, who is a policeman, is just an Indian whose family now stays in Mukah.

This year he was supposed to celebrate Deepavali at his in-law’s house.

With this year marking nine years of service in Mukah, he said this was also the first year he was not returning to Perak.

“Usually on the first day, our family would pray at the temple together and then visit other families for blessings, exchange of ‘angpow’, and often we would also have open houses.

“This year, all the siblings and family members who are far away cannot return to home. It is sad, but for safety we have to comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP),” he said when at his house on Saturday (Nov 14).

He said Deepavali had a great meaning for all family members who usually come from all over to get together. It is like a blessing for the family as it brings about great joy.

“For a few days I have been thinking about how to celebrate Deepavali, and this year I feel that the celebration would pass like a normal day because without family it does not have much meaning. When we are close to our parents, the feeling of celebrating Deepavali is very different,” he said in a breaking voice.

Nevertheless, he was grateful because with technology he could communicate with his family from a distance. He was also grateful that with Mukah being a green zone, he could make plans to spend the holiday by visiting Kapit District with his wife.

He also hoped those celebrating Deepavali this year would always comply with the SOP for the safety of all, wishing ‘Happy Deepavali’ to all families in Perak and all over Malaysia.

For his younger brother Prakash Naidu Jasangar, 26, who also could not return to Perak after managing a car wash business in Mukah, it was clear from his expression that he too missed his time with family on Deepavali.

“I really miss my family this year, going to the temple together and playing with firecrackers. What’s worse is my close friend passed away recently in Perak and I had to see it from afar in Sarawak,” he said gloomily.

Prakash said the community in Mukah was very friendly; always respect one another, and never shy to smile.

“What is different is just the colour of our skin but we are all the same, so to anyone who comes to Sarawak, you do not have to be afraid for the people of Sarawak are all friendly and it is easy to adapt here.

“It has now been two months that I have stayed here and usually I would return after visiting my brother,” he explained.

Balachandran is comfortable with the unity and concept of ‘One Malaysia’ felt here, and hopes to continue staying in Mukah for a long time, perhaps even retiring in Mukah if given the opportunity.

In conjunction with Deepavali, Balachandran and his wife also had the opportunity to serve Indian dishes such as nasi briyani, achi murukku, and ladu to his colleagues.

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