Holidays

There are two holidays this week.  I have decided that the Malaysians have more holidays then the State of Alabama employees.  

The holiday today (Nov. 13) is Deepavali.  It marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year.  Translated it means "row of lights".  It celebrates the victory of Goodness over Evil and Light over Darkness.  It is a five day festival where people are cleaning their houses and wearing new clothes.  On the first day of the festival people pray and have a special breakfast of many different foods.

The holiday on Thursday is Awal Muharram.  Awal Muharram celebrates the beginning of the Islamic New Year and is also the beginning of ten days of rememberance for the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, Prophet Mohammed's grandson, who was killed in the battle of Karbalaon the tenth day of Muharram.   Muharram, derived from the word haram which means sinful, is a month considered most sacred of all besides the month of Ramadan.  During this time, Muslims are forbidden to fight, hence a time of mourning and peace.   It is considered a time for self-evaluation and a starting point for change. 

I thought it was interesting that the US Embassy observes the Deepavali holiday but not the Awal Muharram holiday.

These are some pictures taken in the mall and in front of our apartment building.

This is colored rice.