Sydney-based Pramila Shanmuga Ganesan said Tamils celebrate Deepavali by getting up early and taking an oil bath.
"We believe that Lord Vishnu took an oil bath after the victory against the demon king, Narakasuran, marking a new beginning and that’s how the tradition of an oil bath before sunrise has been religiously followed by the Tamils, symbolising the spiritual cleansing of the mind," she said.
"The day after Deepavali is the nonbu (a ritual performed by women from the Tamil community for the welfare of the family members) during which we observe fasting, go to the temple and tie a sacred thread.
"We visit our brothers' and sisters’ homes with plates full of adhirasam (a sweet dish) and murukku (a savoury dish). We prepare fire crackers and organise new clothes before the festival in Tamil Nadu."
She said the community came together to celebrate Deepavali in Australia despite missing family back home.
"We celebrate Deepavali for one day in India whereas in Australia we celebrate it for a month," she said.
"Every weekend in October, we attend events organised by various councils with friends. Dance programs, Ramayana dramas and many cultural activities happen from morning to night, ending with spectacular fireworks."
'Splendid Lakshmi puja'
Suresh Hebbal Shivashankarappa, an IT professional from the Kannada-speaking community in Sydney, said Kannadigas observed Deepavali for three days.
“Day one is Naraka Chaturdashi which marks the victory of good over evil. Day two is Amavasya Lakshmi puja during which prayers are splendidly offered to Goddess Lakshmi and the final day is Balipadyami, which commemorates Lord Vishnu’s conquest against Mahabali in Vamana avatar," he said.
"The arrangements for Deepavali start one month before. We start cleaning our houses with great attention to detail as we strongly believe that Goddess Lakshmi only enters houses which are neat and tidy.
“Lakshmi puja is a significant part of the festival of lights. We decorate the doorsteps of our houses with cow dung, which is the abode of Goddess Lakshmi.
"We usually decorate the cow dung with flowers and seasonal grains. We go to the nearby village in the morning on Deepavali to buy cow dung and grains.
"After puja, a grand meal would be served and, in the evening, we complete the celebrations by firing crackers."
Suresh with his family Credit: Supplied
A simple celebration
Though Deepavali is not as big as Onam and Vishu for Keralites, it is still celebrated in some parts of Kerala, according to Dr Smitha Balu, an Australia-based Carnatic singer.
Keralites were influenced by Tamil traditions in their Deepavali celebrations, Balu said.
"I hail from Trivandrum, which is geographically near Tamil Nadu, where Deepavali is a huge celebration," she said.
"We follow the Tamil way in our Deepavali festivities. Only cities that are situated near Tamil Nadu celebrate Deepavali in Kerala. We visit the houses of our Tamil friends and we’d be delighted to see their houses lit by lamps.
Dr Smitha Balu Credit: Supplied
A two-day celebration
Laxmi Jyothsna, from the Telugu-speaking community, said Deepavali was celebrated for two days.
"From firing crackers, distributing sweets, offering Lakshmi puja and Kedareswara puja to paying respects to ancestors, we celebrate Deepavali for two days," she said.
"My favourite part of this festival is visiting family members with gifts and sweets.
"We usually don’t fire crackers alone in India — all family members gather at one place and (do that).
"People from business families in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh perform Lakshmi puja on a large scale."
Ladies of the houses keep Goddess Laksmi on a mandap decorated with currency notes and coins. The business families sincerely pray for profit in their line of work throughout the year.Laxmi Jyothsna
On Ammavasai, she said community members remembered ancestors, performed sacred puja and sought their blessings.
"My mother-in-law puts on Kedareswara puja by observing fast until the priests complete all the rituals," she said.
"Cooking for the ritual is the most exciting part as family members prepare all the food items in (batches of) 27.
"The presentation of these delicacies would be a spectacle. This tradition is observed only by certain families, who have been doing this puja for many generations on Deepavali."
Laxmi Jyothsna Credit: Supplied
"We need to wait for good to win over evil and Deepavali is all about this for us."
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