YOURSAY | Deepavali v Diwali: Not mere pedantry, but more important issues abound

MIC Deputy President Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has issued a strong statement regarding the use of the term "Diwali" instead of the official and correct name "Deepavali" during the recent festive celebrations in Kuala Lumpur and Brickfields. Saravanan emphasized that the legally gazetted term "Deepavali" is the appropriate designation for the festival, as it accurately reflects the linguistic and cultural heritage of Malaysia's Indian community, primarily Tamil speakers.

Saravanan has taken the initiative to write a letter to Hannah Yeoh, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Federal Territories, and a copy has been sent to the Prime Minister himself. He urged the minister to take immediate action in correcting this mistake and ensuring that the term "Deepavali" is used going forward in all official and public references to the festival.

The deputy president pointed out that the majority of Malaysia's Indian population originates from South India, where Tamil is predominantly spoken. Consequently, "Deepavali" accurately represents the cultural and linguistic identity of this significant Hindu community in the nation. On the other hand, "Diwali" is a regional variation primarily used in Northern India by Hindi-speaking communities.

Saravanan stressed that the use of the term "Diwali" instead of the official gazetted term "Deepavali" diminishes the identity of the Tamil-speaking majority within Malaysia's Hindu community. He expressed his strong conviction that the Prime Minister should immediately replace all instances of "Diwali" with "Deepavali" to demonstrate genuine respect for the culture, traditions, and dignity of Malaysia's Tamil-speaking Hindu community.