Deepavali celebrations for this year in Little India have kicked off in style with colorful decorations, traditional Tamil musical performances, and artistic dances.
Deepavali falls on November 8. Marking the occasion, the “Deepavali Festival” light-up ceremony took place on Birch Road in Little India on Saturday (October 3), starting at 7pm. The decorative lights were switched on at 7.45pm.
Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for National Development, attended the event as the Guest of Honour.
“Through such celebrations, our heritage remains vibrant and thrives. It is important to continuously protect, share, and pass these traditions down to the next generation.
“When people from diverse backgrounds join together to participate in these celebrations, our traditions grow stronger,” she said.
Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Education and Sustainability and the Environment; Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development; and Denise Phua, Member of Parliament, also attended the event.
Organised annually by LISHA (Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association), this year’s light-up theme is Lord Rama’s victory in rescuing Sita from Lanka.
“Over the past year, the world has faced many conflicts and challenges. Only when there is hope in life can we move toward victory.
“Deepavali is considered a festival where darkness disappears and light and hope are born. Therefore, we thought of making the story of Lord Rama—an exemplar of hope—the decorative theme,” said LISHA Vice President Keerthi Rajendran.
The light-up event was hosted by local television personality Jaynesh Isuran and radio personality Haleema Asman. At the event, the Hindu Endowments Board, together with Hindu temples, presented a cheque valued at $83,500 to the President’s Challenge.
In conjunction with Deepavali, LISHA has organised various special events running from October through November.
A new heritage walking tour created using virtual reality technology is expected to captivate the public. Using VR headsets, visitors can experience what the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Little India Arcade, and Tekka Market might have looked like in the 1800s. The event will take place at the Indian Heritage Centre every Saturday from October 10 to November 7.
A new feature introduced this year is the “Little India Photo Trail Challenge.” Running from October 3 to November 8, ten locations in Little India will be revealed to the public via social media each week. Participants who visit these spots and take the best photos stand a chance to win vouchers worth up to $150 through a lucky draw.
Alongside these new highlights, several family-friendly activities have been organised, including brass lamp carving, clay lamp painting, and spice-blending workshops.
Additionally, there will be musical performances, “Big Bus” Deepavali tours, SINDA’s “Project Give” activities, and the traditional Deepavali festive market.
LISHA President Regunath Siva expressed confidence that these offerings will encourage more people to visit Little India.
For further details regarding the events, the public can visit the website deepavali.sg.
