GEORGE TOWN, Nov 1 — A vibrant splash of colours, festive decorations and lively entertainment has brought the spirit of Deepavali to life at the Penang Jom Jom Deepavali Carnival 2026 in Bayan Lepas, with the celebration also opening new doors for small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Beyond the festive atmosphere, the 10-day carnival, which runs until November 7, is providing a valuable platform for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), home-based businesses and budding entrepreneurs to showcase their products, connect with consumers and expand their market reach.

Penang Indian Business Organisation president Dr Kugilan Pushpanathan said the carnival featured about 45 stalls offering a variety of products, with nearly 95 per cent of the participating vendors making their debut at a Deepavali carnival, many of whom had previously operated from home or relied on online platforms to sell their products.

He said the initiative, organised by the Penang Indian Business Organisation, was not solely business-oriented but also aimed at highlighting the growing number of Indian entrepreneurs and encouraging more members of the community to venture into business.

“Our intention is to give small vendors an opportunity to step out and introduce their products to the public. Some have been operating from home or online, but have never had the chance to participate in a carnival like this.

“We want them to gain exposure and experience, rather than focusing solely on making profits from the event,” he told Bernama at the carnival today.

Kugilan, who is also Key Global Network Sdn Bhd chief executive officer and founder, said the carnival is targeting about 10,000 visitors throughout its 10-day programme, following an encouraging turnout of nearly 2,000 visitors on the opening day.

He said the carnival also featured various cultural and entertainment programmes, including traditional music performances, local artistes and a special platform for aspiring singers to showcase their talents after auditions.

Kugilan also thanked the Penang state government, including Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, for their support in making the state’s first and largest Deepavali carnival possible, while expressing hope that the carnival could become an annual fixture in Penang’s Deepavali celebrations, providing a sustainable platform for small businesses and emerging talents.

Among the vendors is 16-year-old entrepreneur Aesvan Arvind, selling decorative lights and traditional Indian biscuits, who said business at the carnival had been encouraging, with visitor turnout exceeding his expectations and customers showing strong support for the participating vendors.

He said the carnival’s spacious outdoor setting and strategic location had given vendors better visibility and made it easier for visitors to discover their products compared with some other events held indoors.

“The response has been good, with more people coming than we initially expected. This provides a good platform for us to sell our products face-to-face to customers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Batu Uban assemblyman A.Kumaresan said the carnival offered an important platform for new entrepreneurs, start-ups and small traders to introduce their products directly to consumers.

“Many entrepreneurs had been operating from home or selling their products online, and the event allowed them to gain exposure to a wider market. This initiative was also important in encouraging more members of the Indian community to venture into entrepreneurship,” he said.

Kumaresan said the initiative also provided an opportunity for entrepreneurs to explore ways to take their businesses to the next level, with support from various agencies, including the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) and National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun).

The carnival was officially opened last night by Deputy National Unity Minister R. Yuneswaran. — Bernama