Some traders along the enclave expressed disappointment over the sombre mood. The street is lined by two rows of more than 100 pre-war shops.

The chairman of the Entrepreneurs Association of Little India Klang, N P Raman, said that the street is usually congested during festive seasons for at least two weeks before the celebration.

“But now, it is close to a week until the Deepavali celebration on Oct 29, but we don’t see any attractions or decorative items placed along Jalan Tengku Kelana,” he told Bernama.

Raman, who is managing director of Thangaram Jewellers Sdn Bhd, said there had not been any initiative by the Selangor state government to beautify Little India since it came into power in 2008.

“If there is no action from the state government through the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) to beautify the place, we from the association will hang buntings and banners promoting the celebration.

“We also want the street lights along the Little India enclave lit with LED bulbs,” he said.

Another trader, N Ravichandran, a founder of Sri Kumaran’s Textile Sdn Bhd, said the Deepavali shopping carnivals held across the country had affected business. “My sales had dropped significantly up to 40 per cent during weekends due to the trade carnivals this year,” he said.

Klang municipal council president Mohamad Yasid Bidin said MPK planned to hold a Deepavali open house at Jalan Tengku Kelana in efforts to liven the Deepavali mood there.

A check by Bernama revealed there was no festive decorations in the enclave as claimed by the traders except for some tents for the Deepavali celebration.