Kota Kinabalu: Deepavali the Festival of Lights fosters the spirit of unity among the diverse communities in Sabah, encouraging them to continue living together in peace and harmony.
President of the Sri Pasupathinath Alayam Temple, Datuk Dr K. Mathavan, said this year’s celebration was particularly special due to the presence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah, who graciously joined in the festivities.
“Deepavali symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, which is closely aligned with the spirit of the multicultural society practised in this state.
“Today, we can see various races and ethnicities coming together to celebrate the Festival of Lights, proving that the people here respect one another,” he said.
He said the GRS State Government’s assistance of RM750,000 to six temples in Sabah was crucial in helping temples organise programs such as Deepavali.
Mathavan noted the State Government’s concern for the Hindu community, which is a minority group in Sabah, numbering only about 15,000.
He said next year, the Hindu community would hold a grand ceremony, the Consecration Ceremony, which is celebrated once every 12 years.
Some 800 people joined the event. They represented The event was attended by approximately 800 people, including representatives of non-governmental organizations.
Among the attendees were first-time visitors to Sabah, Komala Indra, 37, and Uma Nandini, 31, from Selangor. The duo brought their families along to experience the festive atmosphere.
“We heard so much about Sabah’s cultural tolerance and wanted to experience it for ourselves. That’s why we chose to celebrate Deepavali here.”“We googled the temple and places in Sabah, and we liked what we saw.
“It’s wonderful here, we see people of all races coming together to celebrate, unlike in Selangor where celebrations tend to be more segregated with each community celebrating their own festivals. In Sabah, it feels different,” said Uma.
Present was Jo-Anna Henly Rampas, a Dusun and former political figure turned podcaster, who shared her reflections on Sabah’s unique social fabric.
“The answer is tolerance in all aspects.
Sabahans have long embraced diversity, and it’s reflected in how we celebrate each other’s traditions with genuine respect and joy,” said Jo-Anna.
She noted that mixed marriages are a common and accepted part of life in Sabah, further reinforcing the state’s harmonious multicultural identity.
“Intermarriage is not unusual here. What matters most is how we continue to support and celebrate these unions as part of our shared identity.
Sabah truly embodies harmony, and it’s a practice we should embrace wholeheartedly,” she said.
She attended the event with her husband, who is of Indian descent and their five-year-old daughter.
Cynthia Mahendran, 29, shared her pride in being born of mixed heritage; Indian and Kadazan.
“I feel truly blessed to be part of these two beautiful cultures. Both Indian and Kadazan traditions are incredibly rich in their roots, and I’m proud to carry them forward,” said Cynthia.
Her parents, Mahendran Retnam and Fanny Boijol, who have been married for over four decades, attributed the strength of their relationship to mutual respect and understanding.
"Our secret has always been tolerance. Embracing each other’s differences has made our bond stronger,” they said.
Dr Siva Kumaresan, whose father is Indian and mother Chinese, shared his experience growing up in Sabah as a Chindian.
“Being mixed in Sabah is quite interesting.
For the most part, I’ve absorbed more Sabahan culture than Indian or Chinese. Many of my Chindian friends here say the same,” said Siva.
“I kind of look Malay, so no one ever asks about my race, except during Puasa, when I get my IC checked. Only in Sabah!” he joked.
He emphasized that Sabah’s cultural diversity and spirit of tolerance have enabled him to integrate seamlessly into the community and find a meaningful role within it.
“I acknowledge that we still face underlying issues.
But I believe Sabahans have the potential to overcome fear and prejudice. There’s so much promise here to build an even more inclusive and amazing state.”
