Monika Khaled for My Destination Singapore
When Indians celebrate, the streets of Little India burst with bright colours, busy stalls, tasty foods and wonderful traditions. Deepavali, also known as the festival of lights, certainly lives up to its name, filling Singapore’s Little India district with dazzling street decorations and fireworks. Indians look forward to this annual event with excitement and joy.
Diwali or Deepavali is one of the most important religious festivals for Hindus and an important part of Singapore’s rich history and culture. The event traces back to Ancient India and several legends are told about the origins, depending on the region.
Some believe the event celebrates the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana after a 14-year exile. Legend has it that Lord Rama was deprived of his rightful ascent to the throne and banished to the forests by his stepmother so that her own son could rule. Others say that Deepavali takes place to commemorate Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon king Narakasura. With his victory, the good defeats the evil, the light wins over the dark. This is what people celebrate during Deepavali, the festival of lights.
There are many details to the story and Hindus have devoted many days to celebrate Deepavali, each to honour a different happening as part of the entire story. Deepavali is so important that it is observed as a public holiday in many countries including Singapore.