A TOTAL of 150 underprivileged families from various ethnic backgrounds attended the annual Deepavali Charity Event at the Ramakrishnan Ashrama Hall in Jalan Scotland recently.
Organised by the Penang Hindu Association (PHA) on Oct 25 in collaboration with Klinik Derma Sivasanta, the welfare arm of the Temple of Fine Arts, the event was officiated by state executive councillor for Housing and Environment, Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu. State Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim also attended the event.
The recipients also included residents of old-folks’ homes, children from orphanages and persons with disabilities. They came from Penang Island, Seberang Perai, as well as from Kedah.
Each family received a Deepavali charity hamper containing 36 grocery items worth RM180, along with a goody bag filled with snacks and sweets.
In addition, each family received RM50 in cash to purchase festival-related items, while each accompanying child received RM5.
Sundarajoo thanked PHA, led by its president, Datuk P. Murugiah Mohan, for the continuous charity work organised to serve the community in need.
“PHA’s support for the underprivileged families, including the provision of infant milk powder, is commendable,” Sundarajoo said.
PHA also provides other community services, like ear-piercing ceremonies for children reaching the appropriate age, educational aid, health and legal consultations, matchmaking services for eligible Hindus, the provision of adult diapers and funeral arrangements for unclaimed bodies.
Murugiah said the success of these community service programmes would not have been possible without all the generous support and donations of sponsors and donors. He also thanked the state government and the Penang Island City Council for their support.
“Next year, we hope to touch even more lives because we believe in the power of giving back and sharing God’s blessings,” he said.
“Deepavali is a radiant celebration of victory over darkness, of good triumphing over evil, and of the return of hope, prosperity, and spiritual clarity.”
Murugiah also expressed his concern over Indian students who had completed secondary education but were unable to pursue tertiary education due to insufficient qualifications and financial difficulties.
He urged these students to contact PHA for advice on alternative pathways into skills-based education.
He added that PHA is willing to provide partial sponsorship to help these students acquire the necessary skills, secure employment and build a brighter future.
Another pressing matter he raised was the declining population of the ethnic Indians in Malaysia.
Murugiah said PHA hopes more eligible Indian youths with stable incomes will get married and start families at an early age.
“PHA runs a non-profit programme to help eligible Malaysian Hindus find life partners. Those interested can contact the association for further information,” he said.
Pix courtesy of Penang Hindu Association