Diwali/Deepavali in Singapore

When did the Diwali/Deepavali in Singapore start?

The first recorded date of Diwali/Deepavali in Singapore being celebrated on October 21 was in the year 1973.

About Diwali/Deepavali in Singapore Holiday

Diwali/Deepavali is a traditional Hindu festival in Singapore that celebrates the victory of light over darkness and is celebrated in many homes and temples throughout Singapore. It is celebrated on a different date each year, commonly occurring from October to November. This five-day holiday is a time of joy and thanksgiving, and has great significance and meaning to those who celebrate it.

Diwali/Deepavali in Singapore is a time of prayer, celebration, and sharing. There are various activities that take place during the festival, including lighting of diyas (clay lamps), firework displays, and participating in poojas (religious services). This festival of lights brings families and friends together to celebrate with joy, laughter, and love. For many, Diwali/Deepavali is a time to honor the gods, give thanks for all the blessings, and seek blessings for the year ahead.

Diwali/Deepavali in Singapore is an important holiday that symbolizes light and hope and celebrates the triumph of goodness over evil. It is a time of fun and festivities that students and families can enjoy and cherish together. It is also an occasion to show appreciation for one another and to remind us to be thankful for all that life has to offer.

Diwali/Deepavali in Singapore

History and Origin

Diwali or Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is the most celebrated Hindu festival in many parts of the world. Singapore is no exception. This event is celebrated to honor the victory of truth over evil or ‘Divine Light’ over ‘spiritual darkness’. According to popular Hindu mythology, on this day Lord Ram returned home after an exile of 14 years and his people celebrated it by lighting rows of clay lamps. In addition, this event marks the start of a new financial year which was used by the merchants to mark new accounts with the help of clay lamps.

This festival, originally celebrated in India, was established in Singapore by immigrants from India and other South Asian countries in the 19th century. The Indian immigrant community has kept the tradition of this event alive since then. Celebrations in Singapore have evolved over the years and are now observed in a much more vibrant manner.

The oldest reference to the celebration of Diwali/Deepavali in Singapore dates back to 1822, when colonial Singapore declared a one-day market holiday during the festival. This was done to sufficiently accommodate the wave of South Asian immigrants that had recently arrived. Singapore later made Diwali/Deepavali a statutory holiday in 1967 under the Shops and Establishment (Amendment) Act of 1966.

Significance and Meaning

Diwali/Deepavali has a great cultural significance in Singapore. The celebration involves family gatherings, the lighting of lit diyas or candles, and exchanging gifts among other rituals. The festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

This event also marks a period of renewal, with some Hindus wearing new clothes and jewelry. To boost the spirit of festivity, several exquisite rangoli designs are drawn on doorsteps and courtyards in many parts of Singapore.

Traditions and Celebrations

The grand Diwali/Deepavali Festival starts with an event where houses and community places are lit with oil lamps and candles. People also burn crackers and decorate their homes with rangoli designs to bring color and joy to their homes.

Family members exchange sweets and gifts such as jewelry and household items symbolizing wealth, health, and happiness over the coming year. On this day, local temples are also visited and prayer rituals are carried out while donating food to the needy or making offerings such as flowers to the idols of Hindu Gods.

Other popular activities during this festival include shopping for new clothes, decorating houses with diyas and rangoli, playing card games, and participating in various other cultural events. People also exchange sweets, prayers, and greetings.

The most popular event of this event is thedeepavali light-up which is held annually along the entire stretch of the riverside arm of the Singapore River. A colorful laser display is presented alongwith the lighting of a huge number of decorative lights set up along the water’s edge. This event culminates with a dazzling display of fireworks.

Geographical Spread

Diwali/Deepavali is widely celebrated in Singapore. It is marked with great enthusiasm in both Hindu and non-Hindu communities. Celebrations generally start a week before Diwali/Deepavali, but the exact dates vary from year to year due to the Hindu lunar calendar.

Villages and towns near the Little India area of Singapore become busy hubs of activity and are transformed into virtual marketplaces, as devout Hindus fill its streets to purchase gold, jewelry, clothes, fruits, and sweets to mark the festival period. The presence offloat parade in many parts of the island adds color to the celebration.

The event is also celebrated in several shopping malls across Singapore, where people perform Indian dance performances, fly kites, and participate in other light-hearted activities. The Festival of Lights carnival celebrations are held in different parts of Singapore such as the Chirping Parrot and Changi Boardwalk.

Modern Day Observations

Today, Diwali/Deepavali is widely celebrated by all races in Singapore. Much of the celebrations remain unchanged since establishment, with activities such as gift-giving, religious observance, prayers, fasting, and yagnas being part of the event.

The traditional use of diyas or candles has seen a modern twist in the form of neon lighting, LED lamps, or even glow-in-the-dark decorations installed along roads and river fronts. Fireworks have also become more sophisticated and can be seen as part of the end celebrations in many parts of Singapore.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• Diwali/Deepavali is the longest Hindu festival celebrated for five days.

• ‘Padigams’ is a festival custom where performers dance to a specific set of ‘padigams’.

• Singapore has a Ganesha temple that is dedicated solely to the celebration of Diwali/Deepavali.

• Sewing lanterns is an important activity during Diwali/Deepavali in Singapore.

• Fireworks are a big part of the celebrations; however, the use of fireworks is heavily regulated in the country.

• Rangoli is a very popular time-consuming activity in Singapore during the festival period.

• Along with lighting diyas, devotees will also adorn entrances with rangoli patterns of leaves and flowers.

• During Diwali/Deepavali, Singaporeans also make offerings to the Gods such as flowers – which is known as Puja.

• It is customary for married women in Singapore to wear their traditional jewellery and attire to express their respect for Diwali/Deepavali.

• Many sweet stores are set up in Singapore leading up to the festival period, selling homemade delicacies such as types of halwa, burfi and laddus.

Holiday Wishes

1. Best wishes for a joyous Diwali/Deepavali.
2. Wishing you a prosperous Diwali/Deepavali.
3. A bright, joyous Diwali/Deepavali to you.
4. May the festival of lights bring you peace and joy.
5. May the beauty of Diwali/Deepavali fill your home and heart.

Holiday Messages

1. May the divine light of Diwali/Deepavali bring you eternal peace and happiness.
2. Wishing you an amazing and joy fill Diwali/Deepavali.
3. Have a wonderful Diwali/Deepavali with your family and friends.
4. Have a joyous and sparkling Diwali/Deepavali.
5. Wishing you peace, joy, and health this Diwali/Deepavali.

Holiday Quotes

1. “The festival of lights is just around the corner, wishing you all a very Happy Diwali/Deepavali.” – Unknown
2. “A festival full of sweet childhood memories, a sky full of fireworks, mouth full of sweets, house full of diyas and heart full of joy.”- Unknown
3. “As you celebrate Diwali/Deepavali, I hope the lights of joy and exuberance light up your life.”- Unknown
4. “Another year Type shall pass, another Diwali/Deepavali shall come. May the light that we celebrate today show us the way and lead us together on the path of peace and social harmony.”- Unknown
5. “Let the lights of Diwali/Deepavali bring good luck, good health and good cheer in your life!”- Unknown

Other Popular Holiday Info

The Diwali/Deepavali festival in Singapore is inextricably linked to and celebrated with the traditional Hindu religious practices of the people who visit the temples, light diyas and brighten up the environment with sparklers, fireworks, and rangoli.

The conduct of puja and prayers are a key part of the celebrations here. Since Hindus consider Lord Ganesha as theGod of Beginnings and Decisions, most rituals start with pranama or invoking Ganesha’s name. This is followed by worship of Goddess Lakshmi, seeking her blessings for prosperity and knowledge. Lastly, worship of Lord Kuber is conducted, seeking his blessings for wealth, health and happiness.

In accordance with Hindu tradition, Diwali/Deepavali 2019 also falls on the Amavasya or the new moon night. According to Hindu mythology, the new moon night is dedicated to so-called pitras or ancestorial spirits. Thus, performing homage on this night is considered a sacred obligation, and prayers are offered to the departed souls along with special sweets and dishes.

In summary, the festival of Diwali/Deepavali in Singapore provides a unique opportunity to experience the cultures that come together to observe this unique holiday. From its roots in the Hindu religion, the modern day version of the celebration has evolved to include people from all walks of life, displaying the unique blend of cultures found in Singapore. Whether for religious or cultural reasons, Diwali/Deepavali is a unique event that deserves to be highlighted and appreciated.