Celebrate Deepavali in Malaysia

Malaysia is a socially liberal and diverse country in Maritime Southeast Asia. For the same reason, festivals of different faiths are celebrated in Malaysia yearly. One such festival is Diwali/Deepavali, celebrated by Indian Malays. Around 7% of people in Malaysia are Hindus who celebrate Deepavali every year. Besides Hindus, Sikhs and Jains in Malaysia also partake in Deepawali celebrations. Since Malaysia is a multicultural country, people from other religions also witness the auspicious Deepavali celebrations. Read on to know how people will celebrate Deepavali 2024 in Malaysia!

Deepavali Dates 2024

According to the Hindu calendar, Diwali is an annual festival celebrated in the seventh month, known as Kartik month. This year, Diwali in Malaysia will be celebrated from Thursday, 31 October 2024, to Saturday, 2 November 2024. The Malaysian government recognizes Deepavali as an important festival, and there is a public holiday. 

Why do People Celebrate Deepavali Every Year?

People celebrate Diwali every year for several reasons. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama returned to his home in Ayodhya on the day of Deepavali after a 14-year exile. However, there are many other stories associated with Deepavali. Tamils celebrate Deepavali as the day when Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura.

Sikhs also celebrate Deepavali as the day when their 6th guru was released from prison. To honor Guru Hargobind, Sikhs celebrate Diwali every year. Buddhists in Malaysia also celebrate Deepavali for a reason. It is believed that King Ashoka accepted Buddhism on the day of Deepavali only. Jains believe that their Guru Mahavir attained Moksha the same time as Deepawali. As one can see, there are different reasons to celebrate Deepavali worldwide. Regardless of the belief, Deepavali is a festival of lights, joy, happiness and celebrations.

How to Celebrate Deepavali 2024 in Malaysia 

In other parts of the world, Deepavali is celebrated by lighting crackers and fireworks. However, firecrackers are banned in Malaysia for everyone to protect the environment. For the same reason, Hindus in Malaysia do not light crackers on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. In Malaysia, people celebrate green Diwali without any pollution. 

Home cleaning and decoration

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Lakshmi is believed to visit people’s homes on the auspicious occasion of Diwali and bring wealth and prosperity on the occasion of Deepavali. To welcome Goddess Laxmi on Diwali, people start cleaning their houses. Tamils in Malaysia start cleaning every inch of their house a few days before Diwali. They make rangolis/kolams on their floors to decorate their homes.

After cleaning their houses, Tamils also light their homes with diyas and candles. Diwali is also called the festival of lights, and people decorate their houses with flashy lights, diyas, and candles. During Diwali celebrations, you will see the balconies of houses decorated with oil lamps. Every street and house glows on the night of Diwali, and it is a beautiful sight to see.

Planning to do some Diwali shopping? Check out our best finds for Diwali shopping in Malaysia!

Making sweets

On the occasion of Diwali, Malaysians prepare several delicacies and sweets. Many traditional delicacies are prepared during Deepavali. Some popular food items prepared by Tamils during Deepavali are laddu, pahu, murukku, omapodi, and achu murukku. To celebrate Diwali, people distribute delicacies and sweets to family and friends. People also distribute sweets to people from other religions on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.

Visiting relatives and friends

People believe that enmity should be removed from their hearts on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. For the same reason, people visit the houses of their friends and relatives on the night of Diwali. While meeting each other, people exchange Deepavali greetings. People distribute sweets and gifts to one another on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. While meeting each other on Diwali, people dress in traditional Indian clothes. On this auspicious occasion, you can visit the various famous Hindu temples and Batu Caves with your friends and family. Planning to hang around for some Diwali shopping and entertainment with friends and family? Check out the Best Shopping Malls in Malaysia!

Where to Celebrate Diwali in Malaysia?

Deepavali is celebrated in all parts of Malaysia by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains. Few people in Sarawak and Labuan celebrate Diwali because of the small Hindu population there. However, many temples and spots around Malaysia witness mass Deepavali celebrations. Some popular locations that serve as the focal point of Deepavali celebrations witness huge footfall and are a must-visit. Let’s check out some of the places you can list down for your Deepavali 2024 celebrations –

Little India

If you want to celebrate Diwali in Kuala Lumpur, Little India is the best place. Located in the Brickfields region of KL, Little India witnesses Diwali celebrations every year. Malls and shops in Little India are lit and decorated during Diwali celebrations. If you want to buy saris, bangles, and traditional attire on Diwali, Little India is the best place to shop. Diwali-related songs are played in Little India during the celebrations. Many eateries in Little India have special menus during Diwali celebrations.

Sri Mahamariamman and Sri Kandaswamy Temples 

Many temples around Malaysia are lit up during Diwali celebrations. Two such temples in Kuala Lumpur are Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Chinatown and Sri Kandaswamy Temple in Brickfields. One can witness holy rituals in these ancient temples during Diwali celebrations. The grand festivities include prayers, religious chanting, singing sermons and songs. The view is spectacular, with the temple complex all lit up with oil lamps and decorated with lights and flowers. One can also eat prasad at the temples in Malaysia during Diwali celebrations.

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Batu Caves

Batu Caves Deepavali is one of Malaysia’s most popular Diwali celebrations. Located in Selangor, the vibrant Batu caves have limestone carvings, and their beauty attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals daily. The Batu cave temples have been dedicated to Murugan, the South Indian Hindu god.

On Diwali, people at Batu Caves perform puja in addition to light decorations. The celebrations at Batu Caves start at 7 AM and continue until the evening. 

The Batu Caves Hindu Temple Management has announced plans to build an escalator at the popular tourist site in Gombak, Selangor, in 2024. This will offer an alternative to the iconic 272 steps leading to the Sri Subramaniar temple. This initiative aims to assist elderly and disabled visitors who struggle to climb the steep steps during festivals. The project and a multipurpose hall are estimated at RM35 million (US$7.4 million).

Celebrate Deepavali 2024 in Malaysia 

Are you someone looking to celebrate this Diwali with a pomp and show? Book bus tickets online to Kuala Lumpur and make this Diwali a grand affair with your friends and family. 

If you wish to extend your visit, you can also visit places like Penang, Singapore, Johor Bahru, and other beautiful cities. The best part is that Malaysia has excellent bus connectivity, and you can easily find buses from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru, and other routes.

For discounts on bus ticket booking, check the Diwali redBus promo code for the Deepavali long weekend and save more on your travels. For more details on booking online bus tickets in Malay, visit tiket bas online!