K Kunavathi has been blind since she was 12, yet the 56-year-old has spent the past decade helping to pack Deepavali treats for prisoners in Penang, FMT reported, joining about 60 volunteers at the SJKT Azad school hall in Butterworth this year.
The volunteers prepared 4,000 packs of murukku, athirasam and mixture for inmates at Penang Prison and Jawi Prison, one of the longest running festive drives in the state.
The work is long and repetitive, and Kunavathi said it still leaves her satisfied. “There is quite a lot of work, but it makes me feel fulfilled. I hope that whoever receives these Deepavali treats will be happy and blessed,” she said.
She is a member of Malaysia Hindhudharma Mamandram, a non-governmental organisation that promotes Hindu values, cultural traditions and community welfare. The group has run the Deepavali programme for 20 years, a tradition begun by its former chairman, the late Dharma Pooshanam V Nanda Kumar.
The programme is built around one aim: letting Hindu inmates observe the festival according to their customs even while they are away from their families. Beyond the snacks, each recipient receives gingelly oil, santhanam (sandalwood powder), shikakai (a traditional hair cleanser), kumkum (vermilion powder) and vibuthi (sacred ash) for the ritual bath and prayers on Deepavali day.
The Penang branch worked with the Om Sakthi Devotees Association on the packing, with about 30 Om Sakthi members frying the murukku at their centre in Simpang Empat from 8am to 5pm before the items were moved to the school hall. The exercise cost about RM10,000, The Star noted.
Kumares Nalla Thamby, who chairs the association’s Penang branch, described the drive as a practical way to mark the Festival of Lights, which he said encourages people to do good and spread positivity regardless of race or background.
Kunavathi has been a familiar face at the annual event. She sells religious items at the Sri Sitti Vinayagar Temple in Kepala Batas, and said she had long wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. After learning about the organisation several years ago, she began volunteering.
Her blindness makes some tasks harder, and she credits fellow volunteers with stepping in whenever she needs a hand. MHDM Penang chairman Thanabalan Nanda Kumar said she is the organisation’s only blind member and is always willing to pitch in.
She takes part in gotong-royong and charity fundraisers, and runs free Hindu religious classes for students aged six to 17. She is also a Penang state-level Thirumurai competition winner, recognised for her recitation of Tamil devotional hymns, and holds the Pingat Jasa Masyarakat for her community work.
“Her calm nature and positive attitude make her a very respected person here,” Thanabalan said.
This Deepavali, Kunavathi is marking the festival with relatives, some of whom travelled from Johor to be with her. She said she intends to keep volunteering for as long as she can. “Doing charity makes me happy and I really enjoy it,” she said. “We should all try not just to celebrate, but also to help others during festive seasons. I hope everyone has a happy Deepavali.”
