Vibrant Colours!

When we are far away from home sweet home, we try our very best to celebrate all the festivals - be it Eids, Christmas or Chinese New Year with our multi racial friends together and feel as if we're all @home! And, today is of no exception when the beauties came and ignited RumahMalaysia in their vibrant colours for the Festival of Light  Celebration! We celebrated this day with a few friends from other countries to show case our unity as one nation that is rich with diversified cultures and unique traditions!

Me with my Vibrant Colours' Friends for the Bright & Bold Festival!

Not only these beauties are cheerful spouses and lovingly responsible moms but they are well talented in their own fields and passions who are ever willing to share with me many things about their traditions and cultures. Among others, in their customs they decorated their homes with a folk art from India known as rangoli. This creative art which is sometimes called kolum used colored rice in their designs.

Another aspect that caught my attention was their captivating traditional dresses namely the ever vibrant coloured and beautifully designed saree and of course the intricately two pieces eye catching attire shalwar kameez! So far when I saw ladies in their sarees at receptions, I was always amazed and wondered how did they wear them? Indeed, this morning I had the opportunity to find out how they wore these six to nine yards materials. Well, it wasn't easy at all. It involves lots of skill and know how and most of all patience! The sarees are worn over a petticoat called lehenga and also a small blouse called choli. Indeed, this intricate attire signifies the grace of my Indian friends which adequately displaying the beauty of all the wearer!

Others came in their shalwar kameez. The shalwar are loose pajama like trousers where the legs are wide at the top and narrowed at the ankle. On the other hand, the kameez are long tunic worn over the shalwar. This attire is sometimes referred to as Punjabi Suit which is much simpler to wear as compared to the Saree. Most women prefer these since the attire flatters practically any body-type persons :D

But festivals without the display or spread of foodies won't be joyful occasions! So, we were truly fortunate since our wonderful Indian friends prepared lots and lots of main foods and desserts for us. Among others were putu mayam or string hoppers which can be eaten with fresh grated coconut and jaggery or as savory dish to be taken with sothi namely a mild yellow coconut curry.  But, surely one cannot missed the crispy prata with butter chicken as well as the fragrance rice with hot and spicy   chicken curry, dalcha, dhall and popodum! Woosh ... In a second there goes my diet! LOL :D

All in all, I truly enjoyed the Festival of Light Celebration with my friends. I treasure their friendship for "the language of friendship is not words, but meanings. It is an intelligence above language" as said by Henry David Thoreau. Thus, in our true friendship spirit and camaraderie, I was happy that the whole event was fun and fruitful that reflected on all our faces with the Vibrant Colours' theme! 

Something to Savour for Years to Come: The Fun and Full of Memories Saree-Tying competition!