Loved ones pined for on big day

Murugian Mohan, 47, says Diwali — or Deepavali, as it is known back in his home country in Malaysia — is a time he often misses family.

“Back home, it is a time of family reunions and open homes and it is a public holiday,” said Murugian, an asset manager.

“Of course there’ll be food, lots of it, we’ll be eating all day because at each home we visit, there’ll be even more food waiting for us.”

Colloquially known as the Festival of Lights, it originated as a Hindu festival but today is celebrated by nonHindus and Indians around the world.

“We light lamps and candles to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness, and good over evil.” Deepavali was important to Hindus. “Our houses will be brightly decorated, with colourful paper lanterns and kolam on the floor made from coloured rice and coloured powder.”

Since moving to New Zealand with his family nine years ago, celebrations had been different: “It’s a little more low-key, but now friends have become family.

“Our celebrations are still centred around food, usually it’s pot luck, so we get to taste the best of each other’s cooking.”

Although the Auckland festival is on this weekend, the lunar calendar decides the actual festival’s date.

This year it falls on Wednesday, November 7.