KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 7 -- As Malaysians prepare to celebrate Deepavali tomorrow, a linguistic debate about the Festival of Lights still lingers: is it Deepavali or Diwali?

Though it may come as a surprise to many, there is only one proper term for the festival - and it is actually Deepavali for both the North and South Indian traditions.

Malay Mail explains how the name came about and what the festival truly entails:

What does Deepavali celebrate?

Deepavali is traditionally observed on Naraka Chaturdasi, the fourteenth lunar day of the waning moon in the Aippasi month of the Tamil calendar, according to Malaysia Hindu Sangam president Genesan Thangavellu.

Genesan said Deepavali marks the triumph of Lord Krishna and his consort Satyabha...