|
SINGAPORE — Deepavali, popularly known as the Festival of Lights and celebrated by Hindus all over the world, brings to mind fond memories of “open houses” with neighbours, relatives and friends visiting, enjoying spicy home-cooked food and delicious sweetmeats while dressed in newly bought or tailored traditional outfits.
Beyond the home, Little India is an integral part of the Deepavali festive period with its annual light-up, where the streets are transformed into a fantasyland of colourful arches and stunning lights, and the bazaars filled with embroidered traditional costumes, fresh flowers and multicoloured, dazzling decorations on sale, alongside booths offering beautiful henna designs on the spot.
Tanglin and Vetri actress Eswari Gunasagar cites the Deepavali Expo as a must visit. “Love the Deepavali expo opposite Mustafa, that’s where the Deepavali fever kicks in … You get everything there — home decor, sweets, fire sparklers, (and) Deepavali outfits.”
Audience favourite and winner of this year’s Pradhana Vizha Most Popular Male Personality, Jay Nesh Isuran, heads to the Expo, too, for his last-minute shopping needs. “And I need to follow my wife around as she does her Punjabi suit adjustments and her Gooday Beautie Parlour eyebrow threading, and her accessory shopping never ends!” For Vasantham actress Vicknesvari Vadivalagan, Little India is about food, and she shared her favourite places to eat, which include Gokul, Madras Woodlands, Tulasi and Apollo Banana Leaf.
Her shopping list usually includes clothes from Haniffa Textiles and the shops on the second floor at Tekka Market. Afterwards, she heads to Liberty Tailors where “Mr Suni” stiches her sari blouses, followed by a visit to Ishtara Goldsmith to purchase jewellery for the occasion. The Indian classical and traditional folk dance performer and choreographer also shared her most-favourite thing to do in Little India during the festive season: “I simply love going for a drive with my husband to see the Deepavali lights throughout Little India. This year’s Deepavali light-up is really lovely, magical and the best — it looks very good even during the day.”
ART IN THE HOOD
At the Indian Heritage Centre in the heart of Little India, the recently launched exhibition Once Upon A Time in Little India explores and highlights the landmarks of the neighbourhood, showcasing the cultural diversity of the migrant community through both historical narratives and contemporary works.
Homegrown film-maker K Rajagopal of A Yellow Bird, who produced a trilogy set in iconic locations in Little India for the exhibition, reveals he is constantly inspired by the area. “I go to work near Little India so I encounter the sights and sounds of the place almost every day, and the ambience leading up to Deepavali has never failed to stimulate and heighten my visceral experience of the vicinity,” he explained. He shared that his favourite thing to do during Deepavali is taking a taxi or bus ride to the area from Bukit Timah Road. “I am always enthralled by the lights decorated across the roads just as the vehicle turns into Serangoon Road. It is always a visual treat and it is especially astounding this year.” The director’s trilogy will premiere at Rex Cinema on Thursday while one of the films, Campbell Lane, is already screening on loop at the centre.
Contemporary Singaporean artist Kumari Nahappan, who is also currently exhibiting her work The Weighing Scale at the Indian Heritage Centre, summed up the entire Deepavali experience in Little India.
“During the period leading up to Deepavali, a walk down Campbell Lane is a must to stir the senses with sound, colour, fragrances, food, sweets and cheer! From seeking the right lights to adorn homes to witnessing the show of creativity and exploring the side lanes to enjoy a meal amid the hustle and bustle gives one a sense of belonging and sets you in the mood for celebration.”
On that note, Happy Deepavali!