Malaysia is renowned for its rich cultural diversity, which makes our beloved country truly unique. With people from various backgrounds, we have the joy of celebrating numerous festivities throughout the year. From Hari Raya Aidilfitri to Wesak Day, we all look forward to honouring these special occasions – and, of course, enjoying the days off.
As we approach the end of October, the excitement builds for Deepavali, the major festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. Many look forward to seeing malls adorned with vibrant decorations and colourful kolams for the occasion. However, some Malaysians have expressed disappointment after noticing how many malls prioritise Halloween decorations over Deepavali, given that both festivals fall on the same date this year (31st October 2024).
Recently, several viral posts on social media have highlighted Malaysians voicing their disappointment over certain malls prioritising Halloween, a festival typically celebrated in Western countries, like the United States and Canada, over Deepavali. One Facebook post by Puan Sri H expressed frustration, saying, “It’s Deepavali season, not Halloween. Have some respect for our fellow Malaysians,” after calling out public spaces for their Halloween-themed decor.
On TikTok, user @/lbxd_8 shared similar sentiments about 1Utama’s Deepavali decorations, which were placed in a small walkway rather than the main centre court, which was occupied by a travel fair. The video’s caption read, “This year’s decorations are kind of sad, to be honest.” Another user, @/reshlikespie, showed a small corner display of Deepavali decorations at Tropicana Gardens Mall, while the larger, more prominent area was dedicated to Halloween. “It would’ve been a great opportunity to educate non-Hindus on the celebration itself through an interactive exhibition or something,” the video’s caption noted.
Many local netizens joined the discussion, with most sharing similar experiences and supporting the view against Halloween decorations in Malaysian public spaces. They highlighted that the Spooky Season isn’t widely celebrated here, yet some mall management goes to great lengths with extravagant displays. Others expressed sympathy toward Indian and Hindu communities who had hoped for a more prominent celebration of the Festival of Lights.
Conversely, some netizens felt the issue was blown out of proportion. They argued that decoration choices often depend on sponsors, not the mall management itself, suggesting that if more Indian businesses sponsored these displays, Deepavali decorations might receive greater attention.
What do you think of this issue?
Watch the viral videos here:
@reshlikespie I mean it’s a mall situated in a Chinese & Malay populated area so I get it… However, it would’ve been a great opportunity to educate non-Hindus on the celebration itself through an interactive exhibition or something ye know? #deepavali #malaysia
@lbxd_8 this years decorations are kinda sad tbh #fyp #malls #kl #deepavali #decorations
Alia contributed to this article.
