FAMILIES celebrating Deepavali are bound to be busy with last-minute preparations with the festival just two days away.Like any other celebration, there’s much to attend to, including spring cleaning, decorating the house, making traditional delicacies and biscuits, planning the Deepavali menu and shopping for new clothes.
Then there are also traditions and practices unique to each family or individual as they prepare to ring in the celebration of good over evil.
This year, StarMetro talked to a several Hindus about the highlights of the festival that they look forward to.
Bank assistant manager S. Prema, 59, from Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, derives much pleasure from shopping for new clothes for her family.
Prema looks forward to shopping for clothes for her family.
“I always look forward to buying clothes for my loved ones for Deepavali.
“I usually do it alone and take my time to pick out the best for them.
“It give me great joy and satisfaction to see my parents, son, daughter-in-law and the latest addition to the family – my seven-month-old grandchild – wearing the clothes I bought for them,” said Prema.
For wedding planner Sivabalan Arumugam, 33, from Rawang, Selangor, decorating the house as the Festival of Lights draws near is his greatest joy.
“A lot of thought and planning goes into decorating my house for the festive season.
“I still keep Deepavali cards from years ago when it was common for people to decorate their homes with these greeting cards. These days, festive printouts are popular.
“I recycle the greeting cards every year and they add such a nostalgic feel.
“I love art and have a penchant for drawing kolam.
“Each year, my kolam designs are elaborate and colourful so much so guests always look forward to seeing what I come up with,” he said.“This year, I am planning to draw a rangoli (colourful kolam) using coloured rice grains and with a 3D water feature in the middle.
“I will buy fresh lotus flowers to complement the design,” said Sivabalan.
Pilot Sanmugam Marymuthu, 36 from Puchong, Selangor is gearing up to visit his relatives all around the Klang Valley.
Sanmugam and his wife Dr. Asha are looking forward to visiting extended family members this Deepavali.
“Every year, I look forward to catching up with extended family members during Deepavali.
“My family used to travel as far as Ipoh and Penang to visit relatives,” he said.
“Last year, my wife and I were both working on Deepavali day and did not get to experience the festive cheer.
“My wife is a doctor and was working at a post-Covid ward in a government hospital, while I volunteered my time at a Covid vaccination centre on Deepavali day.
“This year, we have a seven-month-old son to celebrate with and both of us managed to get leave.
“My wife and I will observe morning prayers with my mother and mother-in-law at home before heading out to visit relatives,” added Sanmugam.
The once-a-year obligatory family gathering is something teacher Rajeswari Raman, 24, from Kluang, Johor longs for each Deepavali.
“I look forward to gathering with my family because two of my brothers live far away.
“My mom and I live in Kluang but my brothers are based in Johor Baru and Penang. It is not easy for all of us to get time off except during Deepavali,” she said.
Rajeswari (third from left) loves spending time with her mother, brothers and sister-in-law during Deepavali.
She said celebrations would usually continue throughout the festive week with their extended family in her hometown of Mersing.
“All of us would gather at our grandmother’s house, with as many as 20 to 30 extended family members expected to visit.
“Everyone chips in to cook the meals and at night, we play games and firecrackers,” said Rajeswari.
Making time to watch a movie in the cinema features prominently in the Deepavali itinerary of television host and actress N. Shuganthi, who is popularly known as Sugar Sugi
“It is customary on Deepavali day for my family to go for a movie.
“Every year, a new Tamil movie is released in the cinema on Deepavali day. This year, it will be Prince starring Sivakarthikeyan,” she said.
“Movie night is my family’s way of winding down after a busy day filled with prayers and entertaining guests at home.
“This is my first Deepavali as a married woman.
“Traditionally, the first Deepavali for a married couple is celebrated at the bride’s home. So, I am excited for my husband to experience our Deepavali tradition of watching a movie,” Shuganthi added.
Trainee teacher G. Manishaa, 20, from Ampang cannot wait to see her extended family members.
“I look forward to welcoming my relatives to my home.
“I live with my maternal grandparents. So every year, my uncles and aunts from my mother’s side and their families will pay us a visit.
“There is so much chatter and laughter in our home every Deepavali.
“My mother knows what everyone likes and would prepare the delicacies and food accordingly.
“I look forward to serving them a feast and making up for lost time,” she said.
Offering prayers at the temple with her family is top on administrative assistant Mayilselvi Ravi’s festive agenda.
The 31-year-old from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur said: “It is an auspicious time of the year when family members are all at home.
“The family is unable to come together for other significant Hindu celebrations so Deepavali is very sentimental to me,” she said.
Mayilselvi said going to the temple on Deepavali morning was an annual ritual where her family members get to bond with each other.
“I hope to continue this tradition.
“This year is my first Deepavali after marriage and my husband and I will be celebrating it at my parents’ home.
“I will be heading over to their place in Setapak today (Saturday) and stay on until Deepavali day.
“My father and my brother’s family who are in Sabah will be returning home too. I can’t wait to spend time with them,” she added.
Pharmacist Anjali Balachandran, 35, from Taman Permata, Gombak has been attending to important chores ahead of the festival.
“Cleaning and decorating the house is important in the days leading up to Deepavali.
“House cleaning usually starts a month before the festival.
“We get rid of anything we do not need and as the festival gets closer, we get busy putting up the decorations,” she said.
Anjali’s younger cousins would usually pitch in to draw the kolam in front of the house on the eve of Deepavali.
“A clean and decorated home creates a positive and vibrant atmosphere, making everyone happy and provides the true meaning of the Festival of Lights,” she added.
