A Deepavali illuminated by unity, love and family

Free Malaysia Today

Born Chinese and adopted by Indian parents, A Rajeswary Arokiadass says celebrating the Festival of Lights with her multiracial family brings her great joy.   Story by: Sheela Vijayan  Shot by: Hizami Safri & Fauzi Yunus  Presented by: Theevya Ragu  Edited by: Maheshan Morgan   Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2025/10/20/a-deepavali-that-shines-with-unity-love-and-family   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTLifestyle #Deepavali2025

Transcript

00:00Welcome. My name is Rajeswari Arokiyadas and Waiswari Imba Tele.

00:07A Rajeswari Arokiyadas looks forward to celebrating Dipa Bali every year.

00:13The festive day is a time of laughter, joy and gathering as a family.

00:18But hers isn't a typical Indian family.

00:22There are Chinese, Malays, Filipinos, Ceylonese-Portuguese and Caucasians among them.

00:28I was born in 1938 in Sagamad Hospital for a Chinese family.

00:35But I was given away, adopted by an Indian family.

00:40Then I grew up as an Indian.

00:43Her adoptive mother's colleague had suggested she adopt a baby.

00:47She had lost several children and was grieving at the time.

00:52Yet she opened her heart and home to Rajeswari.

00:58Growing up, Dipa Bali was a special time for Rajeswari.

01:03I look forward to Dipa Bali's function because that's the only day we will get good new dresses,

01:08everything new, you see.

01:10And then no doubt we are not in a rich family, but we still moderate, we still celebrate.

01:16And we do have prayers, the eve, for the ancestors.

01:22Through the years, Rajeswari has kept the traditions she learned from her amma alive.

01:28Every Dipa Bali eve, she lights rows of oil lamps around her home and performs ancestral prayers.

01:34Her amma's influence also lives on in the kitchen.

01:44Among the must-haves on Rajeswari's Dipa Bali menu is dose, which she learned to make from her mother.

01:51Rajeswari says she is immensely proud of her muhibah family.

01:55Many of them are of other faiths, yet they readily share a meal with her on Dipa Bali day after she performs her prayers.

02:02Their time together during the festival means a lot to her.

02:08Indeed, during the festival of lights, Rajeswari's home is illuminated by more than just traditional oil lamps.

02:15It shines with love, unity and understanding.

02:23Tibia Ragu and Sheila Vijayan, FMT

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