Press & Reviews

The Star - Monday, 29 October 2007

Festive show at street market

DEEPAVALI arrived at the Little Penang Street Market (LPSM) early. With Deepavali falling on Nov 8, the streets are already brimming with festive cheer. The monthly street market has set the ball rolling with a mixture of performances.

Visitors were entertained and enthralled with dances by Temple of Fine Arts students yesterday. All dressed up in traditional costumes, the students dazzled the crowd with several dance numbers.

To add a more contemporary flavour to the event, a group of mime and physical theatre performers invaded the street market and immediately commanded the attention of the visitors.

Dressed completely in white and with faces painted white, they moved through the crowd and playfully ‘harassed’ the photo-taking visitors.

State Health, Welfare and Ca-ring Society Committee chairman P. K. Subbaiyah, who officiated the Deepavali celebration at Little Penang Street Market, said that the event was a unique Malaysian example of celebrating a cultural festival.

“Peoples of all races, cultures and religions celebrate together.”

He said that the LPSM had been doing a good job in promoting local culture and craft since it began in July last year.

“An event like this can attract both locals and foreign tourists with its variety of handmade products and cultural demonstrations, especially during festive seasons,” he said.

Subbaiyah also said that he would assist the LPSM by promoting Indian culture and informing local welfare organisations that they could work together with the street market to sell their products for charity.

LPSM director Ambiga Devy said that the street market was also helping some welfare organisations like St Nicholas Home and the Asia Community Service, and the state prison inmates to promote and sell their craft to raise money for charity.

The LPSM features some 70 stalls selling local art, handmade craft and food products, among others. There were also music and band performances, poetry readings, and storytelling at the street market.

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