Legend has it that once there lived an evil King by the name of Narakasura. He was so mean that he liked to torture and kill his subjects. The King became very powerful and started acting like he was a God. Unable to bear the king's tortures, his subjects pleaded to God for help. God came down, in the form of Lord Krishna and killed Narakasura.

On his deathbed, Narakasura made a remark, saying that he was happy that he would die in the hands of God. Instead of mourning, he wanted his subjects to celebrate and to rejoice. He wanted them to put on their best clothes and their lights at night after his demise. And rejoice they did. After he died, the people celebrated their freedom by lighting up every oil lamp in the village. Soon this practice became precedence and more and more people joined in the 'Celebration of Light'.

Hindus celebrate it by adorning their homes with dozens of lights or vilakku (oil lamps) to signify the triumph of good over evil, and thus light over darkness. On Deepavali morning, devotees rise very early and take a bath. Some would rinse or bathe themselves in oil, which is a gesture of purity and to mark the end of the mourning period and the start of the celebration. This is usually done just before sunrise after which both men and women would make a beeline to the temples.

The Morning Prayer at the temple is done in full ceremonial rites, with the sounds from an ensemble of temple bells filling up the air. Each devotee will then place food in front of Lord Krishna, another symbolic gesture of supplication and humility.

In Malaysia, our Indian friends would play host to 'open houses'. If you have a chance, pay a visit to one of these open houses and you will be thrilled. While you're there, sample some of the Indian delicacies like the delicious curry and bread, sugar-coated candies and sweets, rice puddings and the ever-popular muruku.