Clash of Festivities: Is Halloween Overshadowing Deepavali at Malaysian Malls?
Source: The Rakyat Post
As Deepavali and Halloween fall on the same day this year, debates are heating up over which festival should dominate mall decorations across Malaysia. A recent Facebook post by Puan Sri H sparked the controversy, where she criticized malls for allegedly prioritizing Halloween over Deepavali, noting that Halloween isn’t part of Malaysian culture. Her post, shared by 7.3k people, saw many agreeing with her, expressing disappointment that Deepavali might be overshadowed.
The conversation extended to other social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where user Alawiyah Yussof voiced her displeasure with Halloween decorations taking center stage at One Utama, though other users chimed in, sharing photos of prominent Deepavali decorations in malls such as Gardens Mall, Tun Razak Exchange, and Sogo Southkey in Johor Bahru. Some users countered the criticism, claiming that they’ve seen beautiful Kolam and Deepavali displays in many malls.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Shopping Malls Association president Phang Sau Lian clarified that most malls have indeed focused on Deepavali decorations, emphasizing that Halloween is a secondary, commercial event more aligned with social media-driven trends than cultural significance. According to Phang, “Deepavali remains a cultural highlight for Malaysian shoppers,” with Halloween decorations primarily aiming to enhance the mall experience and attract diverse crowds.
So, while Halloween may add a spooky twist, Deepavali still holds a prominent place in Malaysia’s mall culture. The question remains: Is Halloween hype really overshadowing Deepavali, or is it just a seasonal mix of celebrations?
