The Hindu Festival of Lights is an annual religious event observed by Hindus all over the world. It commemorates the triumph of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura, the triumph of darkness over light.
Food, celebration and prayers, of course, are important elements of Deepavali. Hundreds of families flock to temples with offerings to ask their deities for blessings and prosperity.
If you want to try your hand at some spiritual tourism this year, here are 5 sacred locations visit with your family for Deepavali.
Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur
A well-known sacred site for Hindu devotees, Batu Caves needs no introduction. Located within a series of limestone cave formations, the naturally occurring hill is home to three main shrines.
It is one of the very few holy places that exists within a natural occurring structure. It’s also possibly one of the oldest, having been around for over a hundred years. Whilst the temple is commonly visited pilgrims during Thaipusam, Batu Caves is also a popular destination during Deepavali.
Its most notable landmark is the 140-foot statue of the goddess Muruga. A towering golden figure first unveiled in 2006 that took 3 years to construct.
If you have no problem with a few monkeys and climbing 330 stairs, then Batu Caves should definitely be on your list.
Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Hindu Temple, Johor
Famously known as the Glass Temple and located in Tebrau, Johor, Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple is both a haven for devotees and tourists alike.
Its humble beginnings started in 1996 where it first rebuilt from a shelter into a normal temple before being refurbished in 2008. While unassuming on the outside, the interior of the temple is a breath-taking spectacle.
From the walls and pillars to the statues of deities and Gods, all are bejewelled with coloured glass. Over 300,000 pieces of multi-coloured glass was used in its construction and embellishment.
Additional fun fact? The Malaysian Book of Records listed the Glass Temple as the first and only glass temple in the nation on 12 May 2010.
Sri Shakti Devasthanam Temple, Bukit Rotan
Reported to be the only temple in the world which has the manifestations of all 51 Shaktis, the Sri Shakti Temple is not just a holy site, but also an architectural masterpiece.
Situated in Bukit Rotan, Kuala Selangor, the Sri Shakti temple was constructed based on ancient scriptures of the Vedas, Agamas and Sirpa Sastras. Another unique feature of the temple is the 96 carved pillars that depict the 96 universal principles of Hinduism.
The temple took four years to build, costing a total of 12 million. It was consecrated in 2013, which makes it one of the youngest Hindu temples in the country.
Sri Selva Vinayagar Temple, Prai
This magnificent, palace-like temple will have you feeling like you’ve gone back in time to the Golden Age of Hinduism. Just like the Glass Temple, also had humble beginnings, starting as wooden temple some 100 years ago.
It’s gone through many renovations, with the recent and most important one being in 2015 with a budget of over 3 million. It is now a sprawling, double-storey temple with golden towers, aptly named the Golden Temple of Penang.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha who is revered as the primary Hindu God.
Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Midlands, Shah Alam
Built in year 1873 by K. Thamboosamy Pillai but opened to the public much later in the 1920s, the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple started out as a humble shrine before becoming the sprawling temple complex it is today.
Rejuvenated in 1968 after decades of weathering, the temple contains over a century of history. It is now the oldest as well as the richest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur.
Its main attraction is the impressive gateways, located at every tier, each one adorned with 228 Hindu deities. You can find the chief deity, Sri Maha Mariamman, at the inner sanctum, the only east-facing entrance in the temple.
Visit these Breath-taking Holy Sites
If you’re looking for a different temple to pray at this coming Deepavali, we hope the suggestions above will give you some ideas of where to go.
Visiting these places of worship with their breath-taking architecture may even inspire an even deeper spiritual devotion within you. It may also be a good opportunity to teach your kids about your faith and the culture that surrounds it.
Non-Hindu Malaysians are also welcome to visit these holy sites; just remember to be respectful and to prioritise the pilgrims and devotees.
You can also choose to come during non-festive seasons where there won’t be as many people. It’s always important to be learn and be mindful of other ethnicities and how they honour their traditions.
With that said, we at Motherhood wishes all of our Hindu readers a Blessed Deepavali!
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!