THE Deepavali bazaar in Melaka’s Little India will not feature stalls by external traders, Makkal Osai reported.

       Melaka Little India traders association chairman V. Saravanan who also owns a restaurant in the area, said the decision was taken to preserve the safety and health of visitors and shopkeepers in the area.

       With Covid-19 standard operating procedures being relaxed for the upcoming Deepavali celebrations, the area is expected to see a surge in shoppers and visitors.

       State MIC chairman and former state exco member Datuk S. Mahadevan said that the matter had been agreed to by the city council, the traders association and the state MIC.

       He said previously, small traders were allowed to put up temporary stalls on both sides of Jalan Bendahara.

       However, this will not be the case this year. Owners of shops in the area, however, will be allowed to put up additional tents in front of their shoplots.

       The measures are for everyone’s safety.

       > The daily also reported on the son of Tamil actor Madhavan, who has been making waves after he won seven medals at a state level swimming competition.

       Vedanth Madhavan, who has no intention of following in his father’s footsteps, won the medals at the 47th Bangalore junior swimming championship.

       The 16-year-old brought home four silver and three bronze medals.

       Vedanth also won a bronze medal when he represented India at the Latvian open championship in March.