To most Malaysians, Deepavali — or Diwali — is no stranger. It’s a time when everyone, regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds, would rejoice in the triumph of light over darkness, of good over evil. Our Hindu neighbor or friends would have us over for open houses, and everyone spend hours in each other’s company devouring good food. Of course, there’s more to the festival of lights. Knowing these celebration-worthy facts will make you understand and appreciate the occasion even more. • Deepavali rings in the Hindu New Year. • Deepavali is a five-day celebration, beginning on the fourteenth day of the dark half of the Hindu calendar. • Dipalikaya is the oldest reference word related to Deepavali. It first appeared in Harivamsha-Purana, a religious text from around A.D. 705. You can imagine how old the festival is! • The word Deepavali got contracted to Diwali in northern India with the diminishing use of Sanskrit. • Since most Indians in Malaysia are of Southern Indian descent, you might have been told that Deepavali marks the death of the evil Narakasura in the hand of Lord Krishna. It’s a myth prevalent in southern India. Well, Northern Indians have another version to it: The occasion honors Lord Rama’s return after 14 years in exile! • Many Hindus fast on the second day of Deepavali, and break their fast at sunset, often with porridge or cracked wheat with butter and sugar. • The real celebration comes on the third day, starting with a cleansing oil bath — an act akin to bathing in the holy Ganges River — before sunrise, and ends with the burning of oil lamps and sparklers in the evening. • For farmers, Deepavali signals the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter. • Businesses salute Deepavali by opening new accounting books! • Gambling during Deepavali is believed to bring one luck and prosperity in the new year. Now, that’s a “legit” reason for you to gamble to your heart’s content. • Deepavali has also been a significant occasion for the Sikhs since A.D. 1577, when the first foundation stone for the famous Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) was laid on the holy site. • Besides India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore, Deepavali is also a national holiday in Nepal, Myanmar, Fiji, and as far as Mauritius, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago. At this time of year, to all our Hindu friends, no matter where you are, we would like to wish you a happy Deepavali!