Nearly 95% of Vendors Are First-Timers at Penang's Deepavali Carnival

Nearly 95 per cent of the roughly 45 vendors at the Penang Jom Jom Deepavali Carnival 2026 are selling at a Deepavali carnival for the first time, according to the event's organiser. The 10-day carnival in Bayan Lepas, Penang's first and largest Deepavali carnival, runs until November 7 and targets about 10,000 visitors after nearly 2,000 showed up on opening day.

Dr Kugilan Pushpanathan, president of the Penang Indian Business Organisation, which organised the event, told Bernama on November 1 that many of the first-time vendors had previously operated from home or sold through online platforms. He said the initiative serves a dual purpose: it's a commercial platform for SMEs and home-based businesses, and it spotlights the growing number of Indian entrepreneurs in the state.

"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," Kugilan said. "We want them to gain exposure and experience, rather than focusing solely on making profits from the event."

Kugilan, who is also chief executive officer and founder of Key Global Network Sdn Bhd, thanked the Penang state government, including Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, for backing the event. He said he hopes the carnival becomes a permanent annual fixture in Penang's Deepavali celebrations, giving small businesses and emerging talent a sustainable platform.

Who is selling, and how is business?

The vendor mix ranges from small traders to a 16-year-old entrepreneur, Aesvan Arvind, who sells decorative lights and traditional Indian biscuits. He told Bernama visitor turnout exceeded his expectations and customers showed strong support for vendors.

"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," Aesvan said.

He credited the carnival's spacious outdoor setting and strategic location for giving vendors better visibility, arguing it made products easier to discover than at indoor events.

What support sits behind the stalls?

Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan said the carnival offered a critical channel for new entrepreneurs, start-ups and small traders to reach consumers directly, after years of selling from home or online.

"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," Kumaresan said.

He added that the event lets entrepreneurs explore scaling up with support from agencies including the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) and the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun).

Beyond trading, the programme includes traditional music performances, local artistes and an auditioned platform for aspiring singers. Deputy National Unity Minister R. Yuneswaran officially opened the carnival on October 31.

If the opening-day pace holds, the organisers' 10,000-visitor target looks reachable, and Penang's newest festive market will have made its case for a repeat run in 2027.