15 hours ago
Its that time of the year when Singapore's Little India comes alive. A riot of colours and dazzling decorations adorn the precinct, a traditional hub of Indian shops and eateries, as the Indian community kicked off the Diwali celebrations. In Singapore, the festival of lights is celebrated with as much pomp and enthusiasm as Christmas, Chinese New Year, and Eid. It is a testament to Singapore being a melting pot of cultures.
Indians constitute nearly 10% of Singapore's population. They are the third largest ethnic group in Singapore. Of them, around 57% are Hindus.
The Indian community, multicultural groups as well as government officials have come together to ensure the celebrations are held on a grand scale, PTI reported. Diwali, which falls on October 20 this year, is a public holiday in Singapore. Almost all Hindu and Sikh temples across the country will host prayers, community meals, and cultural events.
The festivities are being led by minister Indranee Rajah, who organised a unique initiative that saw the collection of over 300 sarees of diverse fabrics from across the island at a community centre, PTI reported.
Thousands of residents as well as organisations such as the Indian Women's Association Singapore and the Bengali Association Singapore took part in the initiative.
"I just floated the idea of decorating the community centre, and the IAEC (Indian Activities Executive Committee) really took it and ran with it. They came up with the design and different ways of draping the sarees, and the result is amazing. It was a real community effort," Rajah was quoted as saying by a local newspaper.
"These sarees represent more than fabric. They are threads of our cultural heritage being woven into a celebration that brings our entire community together," said Rajah, who also serves as the second minister for Finance and Development.
The report said the donated sarees would be distributed to old-age homes, domestic workers and even sent abroad to India and Malaysia.
- Ends
Inputs By Press Trust of India (PTI)
Published By:
Radhika Hitkari
Published On:
Oct 17, 2025
