Small Hindu communities, big Deepavali spirit in Sabah and Sarawak

Despite their small numbers, Hindu communities in Sabah and Sarawak observed Deepavali with a strong sense of unity. According to Department of Statistics Malaysia estimates, Sarawak has around 5,000 Indians, making up 0.2 percent of its population, while Sabah has approximately 6,000, accounting for 0.2 percent. This year, 20-year-old R. Ruhthiran celebrated Deepavali away from his family in Klang, Selangor, while serving in Sarawak.

Ruhthiran joined in prayers at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Batu Lintang and recounted the traditional rituals starting with an early-morning oil bath and new clothes. His mother prepared traditional dishes like idli and thosai for breakfast, and the family reunited after prayers. Pramod Kumar, a 67-year-old resident of Kuching, emphasized the smaller scale of celebrations due to the region's limited Hindu population, noting that Kuching observes the festival similarly to Peninsular Malaysia and India.

In Kota Kinabalu, people of various backgrounds gathered at the Sri Pasupathinath Alayam Temple for Deepavali festivities. First-time visitor Geoffrey Lo expressed excitement about experiencing the celebrations and the delicious food. Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is set to attend the 2026 Deepavali gathering at the Sabah International Convention Centre.