Celebrate Deepavali 2023 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 throughout the year. 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 2023 in Malaysia!

Deepavali 2023 in Malaysia

Diwali is an annual festival, celebrated in the seventh month, known as Kartik month as per the Hindu Calendar. In 2023, Diwali in Malaysia will be celebrated on the 12th of November. 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 an exile of 14 years. 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 2023 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, it is believed that Goddess Laxmi visits people’s homes on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi will 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. You will see the balconies of houses decorated with oil lamps during Diwali celebrations. On the night of Diwali, every street/house glows, and it is a beautiful sight to catch.

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 the 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.

You can visit the various famous Hindu temples and Batu Caves with your friends and family on this auspicious ocassion. The best part is that you can book bus tickets online if you wish to visit any city in Malaysia.

Where to Celebrate Diwali in Malaysia?

Deepavali is celebrated in all parts of Malaysia by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains. Very few people in Sarawak and Labuan celebrate Diwali, because of the small Hindu population there. However, there are many temples and spots around Malaysia that witness mass Deepavali celebrations. Some of the popular locations that serve as the focal point of Deepavali celebrations witness huge footfall and are a must visit. Lets check out some of the places you can list down for your Deepavali 2023 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 attires on Diwali, Little India is the best place to shop. One can find Diwali-related songs 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.

You may also be interested in – Temples of Malaysia

Batu Caves

Batu Caves is one of Malaysia’s most popular places to celebrate Diwali. Located in Selangor, the vibrant Batu caves have limestone carvings, and their beauty attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals every day. The Batu caves temples have been dedicated to Murugan, the south Indian Hindu god.

Besides light decorations, puja is performed by people at Batu Caves on Diwali. On the day of Diwali, celebrations at Batu Caves start at 7 AM and go on till the evening. 

Celebrate Deepavali 2023 in Malaysia 

Are you someone looking to celebrate this Diwali with 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 Malaysia has a great bus connectivity and you can find buses from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru and other routes easily.

For discounts on bus ticket booking, use code DEEPAVALI55 and get up to 55% off on bus tickets on redBus.my. Know more about Deepavali 2023 redBus promo code.

You can also book ferry tickets and explore nearby island attractions like Tioman, Batam, Bintan as per your itinerary. 

For more details on online bus ticket booking on redBus visit tiket bas online!