Festive decorations: Use 'Deepavali', not 'Diwali' - Saravanan tells FT minister

KUALA LUMPUR - MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has urged Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh to rectify the use of the term “Diwali” on festive arches and banners across Kuala Lumpur, including Brickfields, insisting that “Deepavali” is the official and gazetted designation in Malaysia.

Saravanan, who is also the Tapah Member of Parliament, said he has written directly to Yeoh, with a copy of the letter sent to the Prime Minister, urging authorities to correct the signage and ensure the appropriate term is used for all future public decorations.

“I wish to draw the urgent attention of YB Hannah Yeoh to a mistake regarding the usage of the word ‘Deepavali’,” Saravanan said in a media statement today.

He maintained that using “Diwali” on public festive banners is incorrect, stressing that the festival has long been officially recognized and gazetted in Malaysia as “Deepavali.”

Saravanan explained that the distinction is vital given the cultural and linguistic roots of Malaysia’s Indian community, which predominantly comprises individuals of South Indian origin whose mother tongue is Tamil.

“Therefore, ‘Deepavali’ accurately reflects their linguistic and cultural heritage,” he said.

He noted that while “Diwali” is commonly used by Hindi-speaking communities in northern India, “Deepavali” is the traditional term anchored in Tamil culture, representing the majority of Malaysia’s Hindu population.

Datuk Seri M. Saravanan urges authorities to ensure public festive decorations accurately reflect the cultural identity of Malaysia's Tamil-speaking Hindu community. - Social media pic, October 10, 2026

According to Saravanan, substituting “Deepavali” with “Diwali” risks undermining the identity and traditions of local Tamil-speaking Hindus.

“Using ‘Diwali’ instead of the official, gazetted term diminishes the identity of the Tamil-speaking majority who form the backbone of the Hindu community in our nation,” he added.

He called on the minister to initiate immediate corrective measures to replace all erroneous signage across the federal territory.

“I strongly urge the minister to immediately replace all instances of ‘Diwali’ with ‘Deepavali’,” Saravanan said.

Stressing that the matter extends beyond mere semantics, Saravanan emphasized that public terminology must demonstrate genuine respect for the heritage of the communities being celebrated.

“This is more than just a word. It is about showing true respect for the culture, traditions and dignity of Malaysia’s Tamil-speaking Hindu community.” - October 10, 2026

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