In 1Malaysia these days, the supposedly new concept to remind BolehLand folks we are not a homogeneous nation, festive greetings have taken on a rather reserved and sensitive tone!
The latest is today's Festival of Lights, Diwali or Deepavali and Here's wishing all Hindus a Happy Deepavali.
The Kolam is often associated with Deepavali and when the festival approaches, there will be beautiful Kolams made and displayed. There will even be Kolam competitions which is becoming popular as one activity to spread celebrating our rich diversity.
And so, Kolam competitions are held and have been involved in one. It was a wonderful event, the intention noble to use the occasion to foster greater unity and understanding among Malaysians of each other cultural and religious festivities. We avoid using race but call everyone Malaysians. Of course there are those who will want to do a Muhyideen distinction by insisting they be identified along race first then nationality.
The contest had only one rule, a gender as well as ethnicity mix. That was the easy part. So beautiful Kolams were created, most with the cultural elements of the community celebrating the festivity. There was hardly any religious symbolism. The Kolams colour schemes were dazzling and the themes ranged from conventional to the esoteric.
The Hindus didn't feel one bit about the kolam designs. They were happy with the spirit of the contest and celebrating it the Malaysian way. It really brightened up the celebration in the company! What made it more meaningful was the bosses also joined in, handing away prizes to winners and also lighting a lamp to symbolise the event, Kolam contest and the celebration. Like in many corporate events the mobile phones, cameras, iPads and Tablets were out in full force to capture the atmosphere and the finished designs,
And of course, you'd want to capture those Kolam moments and share it with the rest of the workforce. So the pictures were selected. Everything went well or so everyone thought everything went great.
Until a certain group objected to one picture being used, that of the bosses lighting the lamp. The argument is you can't according to your religion, be doing that! Okay, we know about the religion that does not believe in pluralism and that others are all pagan worshippers and infidels. And what is sad, silly and unbelievable (believable really) that that act which many even of that religion did see any religious significance but more a cultural symbolism did not defend this symbolic action against the religious group!
So in today's 1Malaysian way of supposedly asking us to respect and understand each other's differences, we have applied the halal or is it kafir checklist when anyone who belong to that religion is seen celebrating other religious festivals must be watched that they do not perform any action deemed as recognising the existence of other Gods other than their Allah hah!
So the morale of the story is, we cannot be assured or will feel comfortable celebrating our own religious festivities without being watched like some common criminal if we have caused oen of their believers to perform a ritual that conflicts with that religion. Given the recent church incident, we can be accused of proselytising or causing the faithful to weaken his faith if we ask that person to light a lamp, or joss stick or candle or give an ang pow to the 'lion' or hang a gift on a Christmas tree!
One wonders if it is worth the trouble or to show one's sincerity, of inviting anyone from that religion to celebrate our religious festivities if there is going to be suspicions, fear and even a whole load of hypocrisy will surface with the kind of bigot mentality and intolerant attitude of those who think they are holier than thou!
Nevertheless, while we are still allowed to celebrate and invite our friends of other religious belief, go ahead and do so. We just have to continue to do so, until we find our celebrations being raided and the celebrants all criminalised, we will then know the true meaning of how this 1Malaysia policy has resulted in this type of fiasco.
Many believe this '1' thingy is about the power of '1' only a single entity has the right to existence, celebration and freedom of worship over others.
Even with this darker side lurking always nowadays in everything other religions or race does, will the others and we be cowed into submission and be forced into submission?
If we give in to these dark forces, then we do not know the meaning of the Festival of Lights or the symbolic meaning of lighting a lamp or candle or even a pelita!
Happy Deepavali then to all Hindus. May the light shine on those souls and hearts that are so hardened with arrogance, pride and inhumanity and open their eyes and minds to the light and make them see that we are all one, one human race and one humanity which has nothing in common with this 1Malaysia thingy that is currently causing so much confusion to so many!
Drawn to the light!
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