RISING food prices are causing shoppers this Deepavali season to cut back on clothes and decorations, instead focusing on quality family time.

In a straw poll of 10 shoppers in Selangor and Penang, a majority said their budget for the celebrations remains the same as last year.

But, the amount of items bought is reduced, as the prices of meat, vegetables, sweets and cookies have gone up.

Despite this, almost all the shoppers told The Malaysian Insight that new clothes and decorations are not what matters most.

Penangite P. Barath summed up this sentiment well, saying Deepavali should not be about splurging, but on the time spent with family.

“My family do not spend much for Deepavali, just what we can afford. To me, if you can’t afford it, don’t spend so much,” said the 29-year-old entrepreneur.

“There’s no point making a festive celebration more difficult by spending more than you can afford. Because at the end of the day, Deepavali is about spending time with family and being happy with them.”

Another Penang resident, T. Tharmin, said traditional clothes and food are much more expensive this year.

Instead of buying two sets of clothes for his wife and two children, the 39-year-old executive is buying only one.

“But to say the mood is less joyous this year is not true. It’s still the same. It’s just that things are more expensive, so we have to be thrifty.”

Spending the same, but buying less

The Malaysian Insight interviewed 10 families at Deepavali bazaars in Brickfields and Lebuh Ampang-Masjid Jamek, both in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Of the 10, half said they are spending the same amount of money this time around on food, clothes and prayer items as last year.

“My budget this year, excluding clothes, is RM2,000. This is what I have spent on cookies and cakes, household items, and food and beverages,” said Indira Devi Retnam at the Lebuh Ampang bazaar.

“The budget is more or less the same as last year, but I bought fewer things with the same amount.”

Another shopper, Prema Vaithialingam, said despite the rise in prices, especially for food, families still need to fork out money to host guests and relatives.

“We can still get discounts on clothes as there are Deepavali sales going on. But, prayer items and food are pretty much the same prices.”

In Penang, retiree M. Selva Raju said the prices of clothes are still reasonable, but lamented that fresh food items are now costlier.

“At the markets, the prices of chicken and mutton are higher than before,” said the 65-year-old.

“I usually don’t buy clothes for Deepavali. I buy them before the festive season, when they are on sale.”

More money goes to family

Gengammal Valayutham is from one of the three families polled who are spending more this Deepavali.

“I am spending more because I have another grandchild this year,” said the 58-year-old van driver.

“Every year, the budget is between RM1,000 and RM1,500, but this year, we are spending about RM2,000 on more fresh food,” said Gengammal at the Brickfields bazaar.

Another Brickfields shopper, P. Dharmaletchumi, 34, is forking out an extra RM250 to RM500, mostly on new clothes for his toddler.

“Toddlers’ clothes are now RM100. Previously, they were between RM50 and RM60,” said the private sector executive.

“Snacks are also more expensive. A tin of muruku is now RM150. Sweets are also expensive, but their quality is lower these days.”

Bachelor Thirumaran Muthusamy said he is spending most of the RM2,000 he budgets for Deepavali each year on his nephews and nieces.

“I am increasing the budget for ang pow. The mood is still as festive as last year because we are focusing more on the family gathering.” – October 26, 2019.