Deepavali lights and decorations come down to three things in most Malaysian homes: oil lamps at the doorway, string lights along the porch, and a kolam on the floor where guests come in. Lighting the lamps is the point of the festival — light over darkness — which is why the lamps come first here and the string lights follow. If you only have a minute: a clay diya set from around RM15 is the traditional starting point, an IKEA LEDFYR chain at RM39 is the easiest way to light a porch, and a kolam stencil at RM28 saves you drawing freehand.
Deepavali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8. Below are ten picks across all three, with current Malaysian prices — and a note on which ones are safe to leave burning when there are children in the house.
1. Handmade Terracotta Villaku Clay Diya Set
Around RM15–RM40 depending on set size. Handmade clay diyas are the most traditional option and the cheapest way to line a doorway or staircase — buy more than you think you need, since they are usually placed in rows. Sold by Amazing India, which ships within Malaysia.
2. German Silver Lotus Diya (Thamarai Villaku)
RM16. A German-silver lotus diya (thamarai vilakku — vilakku is Tamil for lamp) sits somewhere between the clay lamps and the brass ones — it reads as a proper prayer-room piece but costs about the same as a set of clay lamps. Available from Amazing India.
3. Brass Om Vilakku Oil Lamp
RM34. A brass Om vilakku is the standard single lamp for a home altar or a console table, and brass is what most families keep and re-polish year after year rather than replacing. Available from Amazing India.
4. Pure Brass Kuttu Vilakku 20cm, Kerala Design
RM79. The Kerala-style kuttu vilakku in a 20cm tabletop size, for an altar, a console or the front hall during an open house. This is the piece to buy once and keep polishing — sold by Amazing India in pure brass.
5. IKEA LEDFYR LED Lighting Chain, 24 Lights Indoor
RM39 for 24 lights. The indoor chain to run along a window, a bookshelf or a staircase rail — mains-powered, so no battery changes mid-festival. Sold at IKEA Malaysia.
6. IKEA GOKVÄLLÅ LED Lighting Chain, 12 Lights Battery-Operated
RM45 for 12 lantern-shaped lights, battery-operated and rated for outdoor use. Battery power is the practical choice for a porch or gate with no socket nearby. Sold at IKEA Malaysia.
7. IKEA SOLARVET LED Lighting Chain, 24 Lights Solar-Powered
RM99 for 24 solar-powered ball lights. It charges during the day and lights the garden or driveway at night with no wiring at all — the least fussy option for an outdoor run. Sold at IKEA Malaysia.
8. MR.DIY LED Lantern Candle 6x13cm
RM6.90. An LED lantern candle gives the flicker of a real flame with none of the risk, which matters when small children are visiting during open house week. Sold at MR.DIY, cheap enough to buy a dozen.
9. Rangoli Kolam Stencil with Wooden Frame (Kolam Thattu)
RM28. A kolam stencil in a wooden frame (kolam thattu) lets anyone lay a clean pattern in a few minutes instead of drawing freehand — the practical buy if this is your first year making one. Sold by Amazing India.
10. 2 Feet Vasal Thoran Door Garland (1 Pair)
RM30 for a pair. A vasal thoran is the flower garland hung across the door frame to welcome guests; buying a pair covers a front door and one interior doorway. Sold by Amazing India.
Oil lamps or LED: how to choose
Use real oil lamps where you can watch them — the altar, the doorway during the evening, the table. Use LED candles and battery chains everywhere else, especially along walkways and anywhere children run past during open house week. Most households end up with both: oil lamps at the altar and the doorway, where they are lit and watched through the evening, and LEDs for the walkways, the porch and anywhere that stays lit unattended.
When to buy
Decorations sell out earlier than gifts because everyone buys them in the same two weeks. Order oil lamps and thoran by mid-October, and treat the 10.10 sale as the deadline for anything shipped. Skip 11.11 for this year — it falls three days after the festival — but it is the right day to buy next year's lights at a discount.
Frequently asked questions
How many oil lamps do I need for Deepavali?
Plan on 10 to 20 small diyas to line a doorway or a staircase run, plus one larger standing lamp for the entrance. Clay diyas are sold in sets, so buy by set size rather than counting singles.
What is a kolam and where does it go?
A kolam is a floor pattern made from coloured powder or rice flour, laid at the entrance to welcome guests and prosperity. A stencil frame makes it far quicker than drawing freehand.
Are LED lights acceptable for Deepavali?
Yes — string lights and LED candles are standard in Malaysian homes alongside traditional lamps. Keep real oil lamps for the altar and doorway, and use LEDs where lights are left unattended.
When should I put up Deepavali decorations?
Most households decorate in the week or two before the festival. Deepavali 2026 falls on Sunday, November 8, so buying by mid-October leaves room for delivery and for anything that arrives damaged.
