IPOH – T-shirts featuring the faces of Kollywood stars like Vijay, Ajith Kumar and Suriya are sold at stalls set up in conjunction with the Deepavali festival in Little India, Ipoh, where the three movie stars are now the focus of the South Indian film industry.
The seller, M Mathan, 45, said that T-shirts with Vijay’s face were selling well because of the success of his blockbuster film, GOAT (Greatest of All Time), which just premiered.
“A T-shirt featuring Vijay’s face, especially with words Thalapathy (Commander), as his fans affectionately call him, is very popular,” he said.
However, T-shirts featuring Ajith Kumar and Suriya are also selling well, especially since the two actors’ latest films are coming out soon.
“Young children are very excited to get these T-shirts in conjunction with Deepavali,” said Mathan when met at his stall at the Deepavali bazaar.
Apart from clothes, decorations such as ponds, hanging lamps, wall stickers and artificial mango leaves are also very popular for this festival.
At Viknesmart Cash and Carry, S Puvanesvary, 65, said there are two types of kolam designs sold – one is a ready-made design made of paper that can be stuck on the floor, while the other uses a board mold with a design inside that can be filled with rice or colored powder.
Puvanesvary also noted that customers are looking for pendant lights in various shapes and sizes that can be hung inside or outside their homes.
“Most of the decorations, whether it’s a pool or a hanging lamp, come in the form of peacocks, oil lamps or lotus flowers,” he said.
As for the paper mango leaves hung at the entrance, Puvanesvary stated that real mango leaves wither quickly, hence, paper leaves are the preferred choice.
“People will take one or two real leaves to tie together with paper leaves as a symbol of tradition,” he said.
At the Senthamarai shop, decorative lamps in the shape of oil lamps and Ganesha, and velvet decorations for the entrance with the words ‘Welcome’ are also popular this Deepavali.
Worker S Uma, 54, noted that velvet decorations featuring elephant and peacock motifs were also in high demand. In addition, dome-shaped Indian lanterns and baskets made of cloth are also sold well.
“These colorful lanterns can be paired with lights to make them brighter and more lively,” he added.
S Hemalataa, 32, a hospital clerk, came to buy colored powder for a pond-making competition at his workplace.
“I came to get beautiful colors to make a peacock design for our inter-departmental competition,” he said.
Another customer, B Asweny, 35, from Indonesia who is married to a local, said he came to buy garlands and hanging lamps.
“There are many beautiful designs to choose from,” he said. – ANN/The Star