Here's all you need to know about this colourful festival that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. Yes, it's Deepavali time in Singapore!
We love multicultural Singapore and all the festivals we get to celebrate. We’re excited to be celebrating Deepavali in Singapore very soon! This colourful festival gives us all the chance to have cultural family fun before planning the Christmas holiday. If you’ve popped into the Little India neighbourhood lately, you will have noticed the gorgeous colourful lights teeming throughout the streets and brightening up the dullest of nights. The festival is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains worldwide. So, we’ve been getting the lowdown on how the first Deepavali came about, which traditions are part of the fun, and where we can join in the festivities in Singapore… First things first, this year, Deepavali is on 12 November 2023.
Deepavali in Singapore: All you need to know
The legend behind Deepavali
The five-day Deepavali celebrations usually fall between the middle of October and the middle of November, depending on the Hindu lunar calendar. Each faith has its own legend behind the origins of the festival, but generally, the most popular is that of Lord Rama and his wife Sita, the power couple who defeated the demon king, Ravana. By kicking the demon’s butt, they could finally return to their kingdom after a 14-year exile. The homecoming in Ayodhya, Northern India, became the first celebration of Deepavali. Earthen diyas (oil lamps) and firecrackers filled the city to welcome home Lord Rama and his awesome wife and celebrate the triumph of good over evil.
How Deepavali is celebrated
Colour is definitely the aim of the Deepavali game. Houses are given a thorough spring clean and redecorated in the weeks before the festival. Doorways are bedecked with beautifully etched rangoli: pictures that are usually nature-inspired and made from flour, coloured rice or petals, plus a combo of 11 traditional leaves believed to repel bad energy. Oil lamps of every size are placed around the house in honour of Lakshmi – the goddess of light and prosperity – to encourage her blessings upon the household. When it comes to a Deepavali wardrobe, dull colours need not apply. The bolder and brighter, the better! Hands and arms are often also decorated with henna tattoos. Don’t forget to dive into our guide to making easy Deepavali crafts to brighten up your home!
Deepavali is very much a community occasion. Visits to friends and family to offer prayers, sweetmeats, and gifts are all part of the celebrations. Big meals are a given, and delish delights traditionally served include Gajar Halwa (made with milk and carrots) and Gulab Jamun (a tasty cinnamon and cardamom doughnut-like ball).
Join the Deepavali festivities
While celebrations mostly take place in homes, Little India is where the hub of the Deepavali celebrations takes place in Singapore. Experience the festive transformation of Little India’s bustling streets into an exotic wonderland of colours, myriad twinkling lights, and larger-than-life decor. Make sure to check out the Deepavali Festival Village on Campbell Lane and Hastings Road too. Here you’ll find bazaars with stalls hawking glittering saris, spicy treats, saccharine sweet desserts and shiny oil lamps by the ton. And if you’ve been meaning to try out a parrot to predict your fortune, well, you’re in luck. Look out for the parrot astrologers who will pick out tarot cards to give you a bird’s-eye view into your future… We’ve also compiled a list of things to do during Deepavali in Singapore if you need more inspo!
Food, glorious food!
If, like us, you can’t get enough of amazing Asian dishes, then sampling authentic Indian meals in restaurants all around Little India is a must. Race Course Road is literally back-to-back with fabulous fare offering mouth-watering curries for every taste and budget.
Head to a Hindu temple…
All of the Hindu temples around Singapore will be decked out in their colourful finest during the celebrations. We have a soft spot for Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple on Ceylon Road (which we pass on the school run every day), and Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple in Little India, where an enormous deity of Goddess Kali resides in order to ward off evil.
Happy Deepavali, Singapore!
