Malay Indians celebrate as one in Sarawak

Miri (Malaysia), Apr.18 (ANI): The Malay Indian community here got together to celebrate various festivities under one roof.

According to The Star, the festive gathering on Thursday night, was to celebrate the New Years of Baisakhi, Vishu, Ugadi, Gudi Padra, Aluth Arurudhu, Puthandu, Nan Roz, Guru Bihu, Vaishakha and Naba Barsha.

It was jointly organised by the Miri Indian Association, the High Commission of India Office in Kuala Lumpur and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

"This is a very special occasion to say the least. To get people from 10 different ethnic groups to come together to celebrate will be quite impossible to achieve in most places in the world but not in Sarawak," Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said.

"The Indians here have achieved a most remarkable feat. We here in the state are already practising this concept. The state government is proud of how the people of all races and religions in the state have always managed to come together and find common ground," Chan told leaders and members of the various Indian organisations during the gala dinner.

The colourful and boisterous crowd of more than 500 was treated to a night of entertainment and music, including by a group of drummers, flute-players and musical performance by KanWarpreet Singh Bhangra - a group specially flown in from India. (ANI)