Also known as the Festival of Lights, Deepavali (or Diwali) is an annual religious celebration for Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains in Singapore. For those who are still unfamiliar, here's an in-depth guide on everything you need to know about the occasion, from its origins, to how it's celebrated in the Little Red Dot, and where you can get in on the celebrations regardless of your background.
We've also compiled some tips on house guest etiquette if you've been invited to a friend's Deepavali open house party for the first time and aren't sure of what to wear or bring.
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First things first – Deepavali is not ‘Indian new year’. This occasion is the Hindu festival of lights, which celebrates the triumph of good over evil, or light over darkness. There are different stories regarding the origins of Deepavali, but across the board, it involves the defeat of a demon by a deity. For South Indians, the story revolves around the battle between Lord Krishna and demon king Naraka, while for North Indians, it’s Lord Rama who defeated the evil Ravana.
The Hindu lunar calendar determines the exact date of Deepavali, so there's no specific fixed date as it really varies depending on the moon's position. But generally, Deepavali usually take place in October, November, or December, and has been a gazetted Public Holiday in Singapore since 1929. This year, it falls on October 31, 2024, a Thursday, which also happens to be Halloween.
In Singapore, Deepavali is most typically known as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. As Deepavali is a religious festival rather than a cultural one, it is not celebrated by all Indians. Remember that there are also plenty of non-Hindu Indians in Singapore, such as Indian Christians or Muslims.
This differs from Chinese New Year, which is observed by all Chinese in Singapore regardless of spiritual belief.
Those who celebrate Deepavali start gearing up for the occasion beforehand by shopping for new clothes, stocking up on festival snacks, and spring-cleaning. Homes are adorned with festive decorations like clay lamps and kolam rangoli – intricate arrangements made from uncooked coloured rice, often made outside one's front door to cast off evil and welcome good luck. These days, families might opt for kolam stickers instead of creating everything out of scratch using rice for the sake convenience.
Devotees start Deepavali morning with prayer rituals, followed by a visit to the temple. After that begins the visits to homes of friends and relatives, where there’s plenty of merrymaking over food.
Little India is most abuzz with activity in the weeks leading up to Deepavali, and the fanfare usually starts with the annual light-up stretching across its streets. 2024's light-up already started on September 14, and will run all the way until October 31.
Don't miss out on the Deepavali Open House at the Indian Heritage Centre, which has a carnival-like atmosphere with free henna, craft activities, fortune readings by a parrot, and a foodie marketplace.
There's also a Celebrate Deepavali event at Kallang Wave Mall's outdoor lawn with Bollywood-inspired dance workouts, rangoli sand art, and kid-friendly activities.
That said, you don’t have to travel far just to immerse yourself in the festive vibes. Various neighbourhoods across the island will also have their own Deepavali celebrations with performances, rangoli workshops, and other cultural activities organised by Community Clubs (CCs).
‘Deepavali’ and ‘Diwali’ basically refer to the same festival, and it’s all just a matter of vernacular. The former is the Tamil term, which is more widely used in Singapore due to the demographic of our Indian population, of which a majority are of South Indian descent. ‘Diwali’ is a Hindi term more commonly used by North Indians. Both names originate from the Sanskrit phrase for ‘a row of lights’.
People are often dressed to the nines during Deepavali, so feel free to glam up, or just don something smart casual. Avoid wearing black though, as that’s deemed inauspicious for the occasion. It’s also perfectly fine to borrow a traditional Indian outfit like a saree or lehenga (women), or kurta set (men) from a friend if you’d like to go all out.
This is optional, but it’d be nice to bring along a little gift as a form of courtesy. If you’re planning on bringing food products, make sure to avoid anything that contains beef gelatin or other bovine-derived ingredients as Hindus typically do not eat beef. Some Hindus are also vegetarians or abstain from alcohol – make sure you check with your friend on their family’s dietary restrictions just to be safe.
Your Deepavali host might give out money packets to any children present, but as a guest, you’re not expected to do the same, so no pressure.
Be extra mindful of not accidentally stepping on the lamps or kolam decorations placed on the floor, as well as deity statues around the house. Try any food offered to you with an open mind even if it’s unfamiliar to you. Usually, the flavourful dishes and snacks served during Deepavali are painstakingly cooked by your host or their family members, so it’s only polite to try a little bit of everything. Who knows, you might just find yourself a new favourite among the mix.
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