Our day started with a visit to the Sri Kandaswamy Kovil at Scott Road, Brickfields. A brighter, more colourful look greeted us as last year the temple was undergoing upgrading. Next we gathered at my brother -in - law's house for a home - cooked vegetarian breakfast. Through the years, Priya has been faithfully preparing typical South Indian dishes for a family meal to begin our Deepavali celebration. This year she added 'pukeh' (pongal sweet rice ) to her delectable dishes which we ate from banana leaves from my garden.
The tempo upped when we gathered again for a lunch gathering of friends to celebrate the festivity at our house. In fact the buzz already started a week earlier. Priya making sure all the essential ingredients for the sambar, chutneys and the various vegetables were bought. Our brass lamps, kuthu vilakku were polished. With delight, I hung the decorative pieces I bought from my wonderful holiday in Kerala.
As for me, negotiating the streets and shops of a bustling, crowded ' Little India' of Brickfields added to the heady preparations. I lost count of the kilos of food I bought. This year, my shopping list says 2 kilos of snake gourd 'coz we wanted the podalanga as a special salad. My maid kept sending me off to buy more onions. Luckily she was the one crying with the onions whilst I lugged 9 kgs home! Ah yes, that's one of the secrets of assured taste besides the chef who mixes the spices expertly together for that special ooomph! She's still talking about the compliments she received from one and all. How my friends envy me!
As if to add to the excitement, my hubby and I received calls/smses from friends as far as Perlis to say that I was on TV3 on a special Deepavali news segment. Even the residents of Cheshire Home excitedly recall seeing my face! TV3 chanced to catch me, an early shopper buying kurtis at the Temple of Fine Arts. I didn't catch myself there, daren't use the word 'celebrity' (ooops, I just did!).
Needless to say, we had a wonderful time with friends and family. The day went by quickly. My blogging friend, Ee Lynn joined us after her usual dedicated work at the SPCA.
May the lights of Deepavali shine on all Malaysians for a happy household.
The tempo upped when we gathered again for a lunch gathering of friends to celebrate the festivity at our house. In fact the buzz already started a week earlier. Priya making sure all the essential ingredients for the sambar, chutneys and the various vegetables were bought. Our brass lamps, kuthu vilakku were polished. With delight, I hung the decorative pieces I bought from my wonderful holiday in Kerala.
As for me, negotiating the streets and shops of a bustling, crowded ' Little India' of Brickfields added to the heady preparations. I lost count of the kilos of food I bought. This year, my shopping list says 2 kilos of snake gourd 'coz we wanted the podalanga as a special salad. My maid kept sending me off to buy more onions. Luckily she was the one crying with the onions whilst I lugged 9 kgs home! Ah yes, that's one of the secrets of assured taste besides the chef who mixes the spices expertly together for that special ooomph! She's still talking about the compliments she received from one and all. How my friends envy me!
As if to add to the excitement, my hubby and I received calls/smses from friends as far as Perlis to say that I was on TV3 on a special Deepavali news segment. Even the residents of Cheshire Home excitedly recall seeing my face! TV3 chanced to catch me, an early shopper buying kurtis at the Temple of Fine Arts. I didn't catch myself there, daren't use the word 'celebrity' (ooops, I just did!).
Needless to say, we had a wonderful time with friends and family. The day went by quickly. My blogging friend, Ee Lynn joined us after her usual dedicated work at the SPCA.
May the lights of Deepavali shine on all Malaysians for a happy household.
Posts
Ah, I just learned something I knew nothing about, and you made it seem effortless. Which one is you in all these pictures of well=fed people?
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Deepavali! I read that you wanted to buy 2 kilos of snakes...
ReplyDeleteYep, your a celebrity in my book.
ReplyDeleteHappy celebrating!
Looks like you guys has a great Diwali bash - the food looks absolutely delicious: Vada Sambar, fried rice chicken.......mouthwatering !
ReplyDeleteAny display of fireworks?
HI rosaria
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting. Am the one in the brown/bluishgray sari.
R.Ramakrishnan,
Thanks.My dog is v.scared of fireworks,thunder and lightning.
Hi Keats, it looks like a big celebration. Maybe it is the counterpart of the Muslim Ramadan? So happy Dipavali for you, though i guess it is already over. I've already sent my greetings for my Indian friends. BTW, you look more like a Malay or a Filipino than Indian, LOL, if you were here you will easily pass as one of us!
ReplyDeleteThe food looks so delicious! I love your beautiful decorations. Seems like you had a wonderful time. Wishing you a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou have family all over the world :P
ReplyDeleteIn The Netherlands and now in India :-)
Looks great
the food and also your India dress !!
I hope you had a wonderful time
enjoy your week-end
:)
Keats!! You have an amazing amazing house!! I'm visiting after a long time and I am so happy I did now!! Lovely!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Dee-day to you... my missus and I love Indian food... especially the vegetarian stuff... urmmm, the food looks really good...
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures once again
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Photos! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for having me over. We had a lovely Deepavali lunch in your beautiful home. The decorative items from Kerala are beautiful indeed! I had fun with Robbie in the kitchen. He thought I was there specifically to visit him.
ReplyDelete