In Malaysia, it's common for Chinese, Indian and Malay neighbours to live on the some street. By celebrating and sharing the main religious festivals with other races, Malaysians have come to understand and appreciate each other's religious beliefs and celebrations. On such occasions, there is certainly much eating, drinking and merrymaking. A typical Deepavali spread includes Indian food such as rice and curries for the mains, and titbits such as murukku, a crispy, savoury snack mode of rice flour, and sweet coconut candy. These days, it's common to find traditional Indian food served side by side with other local Malay, Chinese and even European food, to cater to the varied palates! So don't be surprised to find pasta, curry and fried rice being served on a plate! At the front entrance of the house, it's typical to find a colourful kolam or rangoli, a decorative artwork made from dyed rice flour or rice laid out on the floor in interesting motifs of flowers and symmetrical shapes, lines and curves. | 
|
