Deepavali

Last two weeks, I had post about festival of Malay. So, this week, I’m gonna talk about Malaysian Indian’s festival which we call Deepavali. 

Long time ago, there was an evil god. Its name is Narakasura. Narakasura liked to torture people who were at low hierarchy. Besides, Narakasura was greedy. When he came to a place which had many foods, he would finish all the foods and didn’t leave any food for villagers. No matter how many foods there had, he wouldn’t leave any foods. In order to save the villagers, there was another god fight with Narakasura. Narakasura was defeated in this war. The villagers were very happy and defined the day as Deepavali’s day.

Narakasura

When Malaysian Indians celebrate this festival, they will use colorful rice flour or powder to make kolam(a form of drawing) on the floor in front their home. My Indian friends told me that kolam will bring good luck and benediction to home. He says the god who had defeated the evil god will come to the homes which have make kolam in front their homes. They will leave the kolam eat by bird.

Kolam

Kolam

Nasi Lemak

This week I’m gonna talk about food again. What I want to introduce is Nasi Lemak. Nasi Lemak is a Malay cuisine that rice are cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. Many Malaysians love to eat Nasi Lemak. It is considered one of the most famous dishes for a Malay-style breakfast. Nasi Lemak usually sold by Malay. It generally served with peanuts, boiled egg, cucumber, anchovies and sambal (a type of chili sauce).

Nasi Lemak

But now, Nasi Lemak has sold in small pack by using pandan leaf to pack Nasi Lemak. Inside only have sambal, boiled egg and peanuts. It is very cheap and available at stall beside the street in Malaysia.

Nasi Lemak which packed by pandan leaf

However, there are some Nasi Lemak are very expensive. It usually served with fried chicken, beef and seafood as sold at restaurant. People can choose anyone they want to eat.

Nasi lemak served with fried chicken

Nasi lemak served with seafood

Some Chinese will call it ‘辣死你媽’. It is because of Namewee (黃明志) had directed a movie which call ‘辣死你媽’. If you are interesting in his movie, you can watch his movie. It is quite funny.

Movie which directed by Namewee

Source:Wikipedia(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasi_lemak)

Hari Raya Puasa

      Hari Raya Puasa is festival of breaking of the fast(puasa). Hari Raya Puasa celebrates by Malay in Malaysia. 

      Before celebrating this festival, they have to fast for a month. The purpose they fast is to experience the poor’s life. Understanding how the poor live without food.

       First day of Hari Raya Puasa, man or boy must go to Masjid for worshipping in early morning while women or girl will prepare food for celebrating and serving visitors. After worshipping, they will go to cemetery for worshipping and visiting their family who had left the world. After that, they will come back to village celebrate with their family. They will visit their friends too. There is a ceremony of Hari Raya Puasa is making apology for what their do throughout this year to their family. They will send greeting to each other by kissing hand of elder or giving hug. Children will also get money from elder like Chinese’s ‘Angpao’ but they call 'duit raya'.

Masjid

Making Apology

Duit Raya

      About food, Ketupat (a type of dumpling made from rice packed by palm leaf) is a food they must prepare during Hari Raya Puasa every year. Ketupat usually served with rendang(spicy meat dish) or curry. Lemang (made of glutinous rice and cooked in a hollow bamboo stick) also served with this.

Ketupat

Lemang

Rendang

Roti Canai

     This week I want to introduce a Malaysia food. We call that ‘Roti Canai’.

Roti Canai

     It’s a type of Indian food found in Malaysia. For my opinion, I feel that ‘Roti canai’ quite alike with Taiwan’s scallion pancake(蔥抓餅). Many Malaysians including me love to eat ‘Roti Canai’. Most of the Malaysians have ‘Roti Canai’ as their lunch or supper. It often sold at Mamak Stall(is a restaurant which operated by Malaysian Indian for 24 hours a day) in Malaysia.

Mamak Stall

Outside of Mamak Stall

     ‘Roti Canai’ is served with some type of curry. Some children like to serve it with sugar. ‘Roti Canai’ has many flavor, such as ‘Roti Telur’(with egg), ‘Roti Bawang’(with onion), ‘Roti Planta’(with butter), ‘Roti Milo’(with milo). What I shown above only some flavor, It still have many flavors I didn’t show. There is a special ‘Roti’ we call it ‘Roti Tisu’. It is a thinner version of ‘Roti Canai’.  They make it as a cone shape and coat it with sweet substance, such as sugar.

Roti Tisu

     At Mamak Stall, they always have their ‘Roti Canai’ with a cup of ‘Teh Tarik’. Its flavor resemble milk tea’s flavor but made in different way.

Teh Tarik