But for many stuck overseas by the Covid-19 pandemic and its travel restrictions, the festival of lights this year is muted.

One of them is Ganandran Rothinam, a security guard in Singapore who longs to be reunited with his wife and three children.

For the past 29 years he has travelled every day from his home in Kulai, Johor, to his job as a security guard in Singapore. But lockdown restrictions have forced him to stay on the opposite side of the straits of Johor.

“I did not know it was going to be this long. I expected it to be 14 days and thought ‘this is not an issue, I can just stay in Singapore’. But I have been here since March 18,” he told FMT.

The 58-year-old said he was upset that he has not had the chance to be reunited with his family, but said it was better not to travel due to his age which puts him at higher risk of infection.

He added that work was also important, as his youngest son was still in the midst of completing his university studies and there were tuition fees to pay.

“I’m slightly miserable, I miss seeing my boys. Everybody is in the house because of Covid-19 but I’m not around, I’m stuck here.

“My wife is managing well at home, so I’m just making it a point to send money back for the rent and food. I’m working here to generate cash for my family.”

This Deepavali morning, it will be business as usual and he will report for work as on any ordinary day.

He said he was currently saving up his annual leave so he could travel home and afford undergoing quarantine with extra off days to spare.

“Seeing my family is one thing, but I also need to renew my passport. Another thing is that maintenance for my motorbike is overdue, and I can’t wait to send it to my favourite workshop,” he said with a laugh.

In Hanoi, Vietnam, Paul Dinesh has not seen his wife and five-year-old daughter in person since the movement control order (MCO) eight months ago.

Dinesh, who works with a Vietnamese carmaker company, told FMT that he used to fly home to Klang, Selangor, once every two weeks.

“I took the job because it’s just a three-hour flight away. I’d take a flight on Saturday, spend the weekend with my family then take the flight back on Monday morning.

“Worst case, I thought the Covid-19 issue would have been settled by the end of the year, but now it seems like it would continue until next year.”

Although Vietnam has had its Covid-19 situation under control with single digit cases daily, Dinesh said his company had imposed a travel ban on its employees to avoid risk of infection.

He added that the two-week mandatory quarantine rule upon arrival in Malaysia and returning to Vietnam made it difficult for him to take some time off work commitments.

While he was thankful technology allowed him to video call his family on Deepavali, Paul said it was still difficult for him to be absent from celebrations this year.

“We always look forward to Deepavali —gathering as a family, playing fireworks and just having fun together. I’m not able to be there while my daughter grows up. That’s really the thing I’m missing out on the most.”

Despite the circumstances, Paul is making the best out of his situation and has made plans to get together and eat Indian food with other Malaysians at the local embassy in Hanoi this weekend.

He added that his company had finally allowed him to leave the country to renew his passport back home, and said he looked forward to eating his favourite nasi lemak and roti canai soon.

Ganandran and Paul are not the only ones disappointed by the lack of celebrations. Many Malaysians who were looking forward to spending Deepavali with their loved ones have also taken to social media to express similar sentiments.

Some were “bummed out” they would not be feasting on curry at open houses, while others were upset that they were unable to go shopping for new clothes with their families this year.

A few others questioned what a festival was without gatherings, saying it would be a “quiet Deepavali” for them, and many said they were longing for the conditional MCO to be lifted earlier, so they could return to their hometowns soon.