More Than 300 Attend Malaysian Eid Ul-Fitr Open House In Delhi

By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, June 23 (Bernama) -- More than 300 people, including diplomats from dozens of countries, attended an Eid ul-Fitr open house organised by the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi on Thursday evening. The guests included Indian government officials, representatives of business associations, and tourism industry people. "We wanted to show how we celebrate Hari Raya (Eid ul-Fitr) and tried to provide a Malaysian cultural experience," said Malaysian High Commissioner to India Hidayat Abdul Hamid. The Eid ul-Fitr open house offered a local "kampung" experience in its decorations and the guests enjoyed home-cooked Malaysian delicacies such as satay, roti canai, noodles, curries and teh tarik. For those familiar with Malaysia, the event in Delhi represented the country's genuine hospitality. "I have fond memories of Malaysia and my friendship with Malaysians goes back many decades. Malaysia is an example of modern prosperity and harmony," said Sabit Subasic, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Diplomats and their spouses from about 40 countries, including ASEAN, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ghana, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Uzbekistan, attended the celebration. Malaysia's consul general in Chennai, K. Saravanan who was visiting Delhi, said he was impressed with the "festive and lively" atmosphere. "Despite the constraints of being away from home, this was done in a Malaysian style. We had many people showing interest in Malaysian cuisine, how it's prepared, what goes into making it," he said. Dr Mohsin Wali, a prominent cardiologist and former honorary physician to the president of India, is an unabashed fan of Malaysian food. "It has good nutrition and taste, and it is light on your stomach," he added. -- BERNAMA