THE BIGGEST, GRANDEST AND MOST MAGNIFICENT DEEPAVALI OR DIWALI PARTY OF 2012 WAS THE VALIRAM CELEBRATION AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL KUALA LUMPUR.
A DEEPAVALI PARTY FIT FOR A MAHARAJAH AND MAHARANI AND MANY CAME IN STUNNING COSTUMES WORTHY OF A MAHARANA, MAHARAO, RANA, RAWAT, SAR DESAI AND THAKUR.
The Valiram clan is famous for throwing the most munificent, magnificent and luminescent parties. They have established an enviable reputation as the best party-givers and most generous hosts for many years now.
Puan Sri Sylvia Marican, the grand matriarch Champa Valiram and Monica Valiram
Looking like a Maharajah is the grand patriarch of Valiram Group, Jetha Valiram
The bubbly and ever effervescent Lavina Valiram
Sharan and Lavina Valiram
Roshan Valiram
Roshan and hubby Mukesh Valiram
Looking suitably Indianish were Datin Catherine Lai and Pat Liew of BritishIndia so she has plenty of Indian inspired baju in her wardrobe
This couple look like typical husband and wife but they are not! Kaysha Ubrani is married to Ajay and Vijay Binwani is married to Sherina but they are so cuddly it makes me suspicious as I always think the worst of people
Exquisite 3some; Ever graceful, always classy Datin Chai, Monica Valiram and Rani Kulvinder
When Mukesh married the gorgeous Roshan from Manila, the wedding nuptials (also at Mandarin Oriental, one of the best hotels in Malaysia together with Shangri-La) lasted for a week and differently themed parties were held nightly for nearly 8,000 guests.
This year's Deepavali was as usual held at Mandarin Oriental Ballroom from 11am till 4pm and the food was like the Ganges---ever flowing and non stop.
The Indian kebabs, curries and tandoori chicken were exceptionally good, so delicious and delightful I felt compelled to remark to Lavina, wife of Sharan Valiram that I had never enjoyed such delightful Indian repast.
Lavina beamed, "I am so glad you realised the difference---that is because we flew in a famous chef from Hyderabad, India! Yes, of course he used the Mandarin Oriental kitchens and its team but he personally prepared all the dishes. He will be flown back to India tomorrow."
The buffet tables literally started from one end of the vast ballroom to the other! There were also Malaysian delights like satay, char kway teow and mee mamak plus a vegetarian section.
The alcoholic vodka and lychee drinks were extremely refined and smooth. So palatable to my high class taste that I suspected it could well be Grey Goose, the most expensive vodka money can buy. So I trotted to the freeflow bar to check the label and true enough, it was Grey Goose! Not just any ordinary vodka! I take my hat off to the Valiram family for their extraordinary good taste!
The decor featured the peacock prominently, perhaps in tribute to the grand martriarch Jetha Valiram, mother of Sharan, Ashvin and Mukesh who are married to Lavina, Monica and Roshan. The Valiram ladies almost outshone me with their white diamonds so I played safe by going for quantity instead of quality and wore tons of semi-precious stones averaging 120 carats each.
I particularly admired Lavina's new emerald necklace and it was all I could do stopping myself from tearing it from her neck. Roshan wore a huge white diamond ring of D, VVSI quality and Monica was dripping with jewels.
There were even peacocks on some tables and much care had gone into making the kolams which featured peacocks and the Valiram names.
Indian music blared nonstop and everyone who was anyone were there. I saw Tunku Dara Tunku Naquiah and her husband Tunku Mudzaffar, Datin Chai the new president of Ulysse Nardin, Datuk Tony Lee, Datin Catherine Lai, Pat Liew, Rozita from Sabah, Puan Sri Tessie Lim and Dato Michael Ong.
The buzz was tangible as everyone greeted old friends and made new ones. Most Indians came in their traditional costumes and many from other races also wore Indian costumes so it was a very 1Malaysia affair.
Said Lavina, "We travel so much, mainly on business and also for holidays and visiting friends and relatives all over the world. But we make it a point to congregate together on Deepavali day to celebrate and be together. There is no exception and no excuses are allowed. So this is as much a family gathering of extended members as well as a celebration of the festival of light. Very similar to your Chinese Reunion Dinner!"
The colours blue and green dominated as these are the vibrant colours of the peacock. Recalled Lavina, "Last year the main colour was orange but with so many guests, it does not matter. The card says 'Indian Festive' but we are just happy our guests came."
Of course the more philistines of us started to calculate the cost of feeding and watering the 1,300 to 1,500 guests (no one knew for sure) for 6 hours but everyone agreed it should cost the Valirams around RM 200,000!
The V stands for Valiram and also Victory and the peacock is long an Indian symbol of majesty, grace and power
V for Victory for Valiram!
The double peacocks at the entrance of the Mandarin Oriental Ballroom
Much thought went into this extravagant displays!
More peacocks welcoming guests inside the ballroom
Guests enjoying themselves
The Grand Ballroom of Mandarin Oriental
The Valiram logo carved in ice
There were peacocks on tables too
Guests coming to pay respect to Champa and Jetha Valiram
Lavina holding the Diwali angpow! I got one too!
This is my Deepavali angpow from Lavina Valiram containing RM 1000...oh I added 2 extra zeros
Surinder Singh, Sharan Kaur and Meeta Bhar
My favourite Indian Terimunite
More Indian favourites of mine; Tania, Trunan, Datin Mary Lourdes and Terimunite
Tania, Trunan, Datin Mary Lourdes and Terimunite
Dato Bernard Chandran and Tania
Trunan, Dato Bernard Chandran, Tania, Ralf Doll (yes, Doll is his real name so he is a living Doll!), Ralf Mueller, Datin Mary Lourdes and Terimunite
Ida Lokman and Dato Mahadzir Lokman and pals
Puan Sri Sylvia Marican, Champa Valiram and Monica Valiram
Puan Sri Sylvia Marican, Champa Valiram and Monica Valiram
Roshan Valiram
Roshan Valiram
Georgia, Yulia and Roshan
Sharan and Lavina
Sharan and Lavina Valiram
Lavina looking pretty and perky
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