Origins of The Deepavali Padayal Offering

Every year, just before Dīpāvalī, many Malaysian Hindu families observe a practice known as paṭaiyal (படையல்). Families prepare food, light lamps and offer their respects to deceased parents, grandparents and other ancestors.

And every year, we somehow end up having the same debate.

Should the offering be strictly vegetarian? Some insist that non-vegetarian offerings are against Hinduism, while others maintain that their ancestors have been receiving such offerings for generations.

But what do our scriptures actually say?