Little India in Singapore is pulling out all the stops to reinvent its Deepavali celebrations this year. Managed by the Little India Shopkeepers & Heritage Association (LISHA), the neighbourhood is amping up its festivities to draw a younger demographic and break last year’s record of 4.8 million visitors during the 45-day long celebration.
At a recent press conference, LISHA Chairman Regunarth s/o Thiagarajan lamented the falling youth interest in Little India, citing the allure of malls and other shopping precincts as key distractions. “Youngsters are not approaching Little India; they prefer to go to places like Orchard or the malls. With a lot of Indian shops popping up in the neighbourhoods, we see fewer and fewer youngsters coming to Little India,” he said.
Despite this, Little India has gained global recognition. Abdul Raoof, LISHA’s General Manager, noted that TimeOut magazine named the neighbourhood as the 19th coolest in the world last year. “Which means, it’s the coolest precinct in Singapore, and LISHA is proud to be the precinct manager of the coolest neighbourhood in SG,” Raoof exclaimed.
But how will Little India’s ‘coolness’ translate into footfall this year? The highlight of the festivities, the Deepavali street light-up, will be inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on 30 September. Other dignitaries, such as Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan and Mayor of Central Singapore District Dennis Phua, will also be in attendance.
The light-up theme for this year is “Radha and Krishna,” and the official mascot for the celebrations, Tekka Raja, will be handing out Deepavali money packets while posing for photos with visitors on select days in October and November.
Among the new attractions this year, the Deepavali Food Bazaar promises to tantalise taste buds with a variety of Indian cuisines, attracting both chefs and food enthusiasts. The bazaar will run from 25 September to 11 November and aims to showcase the diverse range of Indian food.
For those who are keen to get a detailed glimpse of the neighbourhood, Big Bus Tours have been scheduled, starting from Orchard Hotel and ending at Race Course Road. Participants will also receive a $5 voucher to spend at Gayathri Restaurant, conveniently located at the end point of the tour.
In a bid to educate and engage tourists and locals alike, LISHA has also organised a Deepavali Treasure Hunt. Clues based on Indian culture and Deepavali will guide participants through eight stations scattered across Little India. Not to forget, a special Rangoli (Kolam) Workshop aims to draw visitors into the artistic and cultural realms of the Indian community.
With fashion shows, live cooking demos, and even a migrant worker competition to celebrate inclusiveness, the festivities this year are clearly designed to be a full-blown spectacle. Little India is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to cross the 5 million visitor mark, making this year’s Deepavali one to watch—or better yet, experience firsthand.
This article was contributed to The Indian Sun by SG Indian (sgindian.com)
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#LittleIndia in #Singapore🇸🇬 is revamping its #Deepavali celebrations to appeal to a younger demographic & break last year's record of 4.8mn visitors. New attractions include a food bazaar, Big Bus tours, & a Deepavali treasure hunt. 🪔🎊 #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/Y5jciTQUVr
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) September 27, 2023
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