Deepavali, popularly known as the “Festival of Lights”, is celebrated in Malaysia on 13 November this year. Also known as Diwali, the celebration involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and the Hindu community clean their houses before the festival, both done in order to welcome the goddess, Lakshimi.
 Family decorating house with garland of flowers © Pixtal |
 Rows of lighted oil lamps © Dinodia |
 Couple holding oil lamps infront of their lighted up home © PhotosIndia |
 Diwali colors to decorate homes © EasyFotostock |
 Diyas & flower arrangement for Diwali © Pixtal |
 Girl holding Arati plate for the festival © age fotostock
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 Family sitting infront of their completed kolam/rangoli © PhotosIndia |
 Woman lighting lamp for the festival © age fotostock |
 Family lighting oil lamp for Diwali © age fotostock |
 Variety of cakes for Diwali © age fotostock
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 Indian delicacies & offerings for Diwali © age fotostock |
 Mother dressing up daughter for Deepavali © Discpicture |
In anticipation of the festival, Hindu homes are cleaned and decorated with kolam placed on floors and walls, traditional oil lamps or colorful electric bulbs to brighten up their abodes to signal the coming festival.
Beside cleaning their homes, the Hindus also prepare themselves by cleansing their bodies and minds. Many devout Hindus fast or observe a strict vegetarian diet, spending many hours during the preceding weeks in prayer and meditation. This is also the time when past quarrels are forgotten and forgiveness extended and granted.
On Deepavali morning, many Hindu devotees awaken before sunrise for the ritual oil bath. For some it is a symbolic affair (to signify purity) while others take full oil baths to remove impurities externally to receive positive energies. Then wearing their new clothes, it is straight to the temples where prayers are held in accordance with the ceremonial rites. The rest of the day is taken up by entertaining their non-Hindu guests, as is customary in Malaysia, by sharing their many delicious Indian delicacies such as sweet meats, rice pudding and the popular murukku.