KAJANG, Nov 8 — As Hindus across the country celebrate Deepavali today, two inmates at the Kajang Women’s Prison find themselves celebrating the Festival of Lights far from their families accompanied only by longing and regret.
For Puvi, 32 (not her real name), who has been serving a prison sentence since 2019, spending Deepavali without her parents and her only daughter now nine years old has been an incredibly difficult experience.
The eldest of five siblings, originally from Perak, shared that even when her family makes the long journey to visit, they are only permitted 45 minutes together, with no physical contact or hugs allowed.
“People often ask about the meaning of Deepavali, the victory of light over darkness. But for me, everything remains dark. I am still waiting for something that can lead me out of this darkness,” she said when met by Bernama at the Kajang Women’s Prison recently.
