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Little India Klang is the biggest Little India in Malaysia. Given so little a time to explore, I loamed the street frantically shooting whatever that caught my sight. The moment we came down from the bus, two ladies, on the pavement, were busy tying strings of jasmine flowers to make garlands. We took a stroll down Little India and captured the street as it was. Most shops were selling yellow/orangey punjabi suits in anticipation of Thaipusam celebration the next day.

What you can find in Little India is everything Indian. This is one stop centre to shop for Indian festivities. Most of the goods sold here are imported straight from India making it difficult to be found in conventional supermarkets. There are nurmerous shops selling punjabi suits, accesories such as bangles, forehead stickers (bindi), silver wares, spices, perfumes, sweetmeats, Indian dry food – muruku and many others. Colourful as its culture, Little India provides many hindsights as to the daily life of Malaysian Indian, the third largest majority in Malaysia.

My quick exploration ended up at a small road by the name of Lorong Tingkat where there are 20 florists selling flowers and garlands. Oh, how I love flowers – colourful flowers. I tried to post few questions to the florists but they did not understand me. But I managed to obtain some information as to the garlands. The small jasmine garlands costs about RM0.70 and the price rises according to the size. The big rose garland costs between RM20-50. The old florists were uneasy with me taking their pictures while the young ones were more open to have their pictures captured. They smiled willingly and some even asked for their photographs to be taken.

Too bad, we had to end our trip to Little India too soon for we had to keep up with the schedule for a visit to Kuan Yin Temple and Church of Lady Lourdes before coming back to Archana Curry House for banana leaf lunch.

Archana Curry House

Archana Curry House is located at 62, Jalan Tengku Kelana, 41000 Klang – within the vicinity of Little India Klang. This small restaurant smacked in between of saree and accessories shops has the ambience of authentic Indian restaurant from South India. Pioneered in South Indian cuisine, one can always count for a very good banana leaf lunch. The cuisines are made of fresh tropical herbs and spices. It’s a finger licking good session! Never underestimate the food of Archana Curry House – even Malaysian’s Prime Minister went there for lunch recently.

I was caught by surprise as YB M. Manoharan, State Assemblyman for Kota Alam together with R. Moorthy Ramasamy, co-owner of Gayathiri Silk & Silver Emporium Sdn. Bhd. and the owner of Madura Accessories shop were present at Archana Curry House to join us for lunch. During the opening speech, both Madura and Gayathiri’s taiko invited us to their shops which are few doors away from Archana Curry House. Then came the announcement that each participant would be receiving a saree; courtesy of Gayathiri Silk & Silver Emporium. Needless to say, we got even more excited for Thaipusam then.

Madura Accessories

After lunch we quickly went to Madura Accessories to have a close look on variety of bangles and accessories for women and children. Bangles are traditional, flexible bracelets in bright daring colours worn in even numbers with often a dozen for each wrist. Nose ring is also a common accessory for Indian women for it is their belief that nose piercing reduces menstrual pain, make sex more pleasurable and make childbirth easier. Then, there is a bindi – decoration worn on the forehead next to the eyebrows. That red vermillion powder seen worn in the parting of married Hindu women is called sindoor. Thanks to Madura Accessories, we were given shining hand sticker decoration, of which I have no idea what it is called.

Gayathiri Silk Saree’s Place

Our next visit is to Gayathiri Silk Saree’s Place, a specialized store selling silk sarees and readymade garments for men, women and kids for every occassion especially wedding and festival occasion. The store was opened in 1999 and now has many branches all over Malaysia. In here, I had fleeting memories of shopping sarees in Jaipur and New Delhi in 2010. I must admit, it evoked the same feeling and atmosphere when I set my eyes on ceiling-high glass cabinets full with colourful sarees with the lower cabinets where sarees in different designs and colours were spread for the customers to choose from.

I was wandering around the shop when I was asked to model a saree. Literally, I got draped by the saree. A very beautiful one, in deed. I was asked what type of saree drape I would like to have, to which I kept silent. To be honest, I hardly remember the Rajastani drape I learned while I was in Jaipur. The sole reason of learning the drape was to take a picture of yours truly in saree with the background of Taj Mahal. Learned, draped and shot taken. End of story.

So the young lady who was in charge draping the next-Hindustani-model (ehem!) decided to make a South Indian drape. I shall leave the rest for you to judge, Tyra Banks. Oh, I was asked to let loose my pony tail to portray authentic Indian look.

So much of an experience kan? Never thought I had this chance of being draped with saree in Malaysia.

Thanks Gayathiri Silk Saree’s Place for the saree and the experience.