National-Level Celebrations Of Major Festivals To Go On

JEMPOL (Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia), Nov 6 (Bernama) -- The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry will continue with the tradition of organising major festival celebrations of the different races at the national level. Its minister Dr Rais Yatim said appreciation and respect for each other's festive celebrations should be sowed among Malaysians from a very young age. "The ministry will continue with this tradition as Malaysia is bound together by the people's mutual love and respect for each other's culture. "We should be proud that big-scale festival celebrations of the various races can be participated and enjoyed by all with support from the government and people." He said this after attending a southern Jelebu parliamentary constituency-level Deepavali celebration at the Air Hitam Cultural Hall, here, on Monday. Rais, who is also Jelebu member of parliament, said the Malaysia Deepavali Open House 2012 would be held in Sungai Siput, in northern state of Perak on Nov 17. He said many events had been lined up for the one-day celebration including handing out of aid to schoolchildren from low-income families. Rais also wished "Happy Deepavali" to all Hindus celebrating the auspicious occasion which falls on Nov 13. At today's function, 300 less fortunate Indians from the Jelebu constituency received contributions in cash and daily essentials. -- BERNAMA