| STB Voices
Three ethnic festivals make this month Uniquely Singapore
Mr Chang Chee Pey, Director of the Sightseeing & Cruise Cluster Development with the Singapore Tourism Board, talks about the triple festival treat that awaits visitors in September and October.
Q: September’s a busy month for Singapore, what with the IMF-World Bank Group meetings coming to town. But we understand it’s also an extra special time for your division.
A: Yes, this September through October, we have a triple festival treat when Singapore's Indian, Malay and Chinese communities celebrate three major festivals – Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Visitors coming during this period will get a real taste of the unique blend that is Singapore – the old and the new, the traditional and the modern.
There couldn’t be a better time to come to Singapore as this is a true demonstration of Singapore as a colourful, multi-cultural melting pot. It’s a Uniquely Singapore memory that we hope they will take back with them.
Q: Tell us a little more about each festival.
A: The Deepavali (Festival of Lights) is the most important date of the Hindu calendar and occurs on one day during October. But in the ethnic quarter of Little India, the festivities last for over a month from 21 September to 29 October.
During this time, Little India will be filled with evening roadside stalls, booming music and strings of colourful lights. And temples such as the Sri Veeramakaliamman, Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman and Sri Srinivasa Perumal temples will be garlanded in lights.
Starting from the Deepavali Light-up Switch On Ceremony on 21 September, the streets of Little India including Serangoon Road, Campbell Lane, Race Course Road, Buffalo Road and Dunlop Street will take on the energetic buzz of a street carnival.
There will be the Deepavali Festival Village which will feature stalls offering Indian costumes, jewellery, foods, furniture and arts and craft. Local and foreign artistes will perform Southern and Northern Indian songs and dances every evening, except on Sundays, right up to Deepavali evening.
One highlight not to be missed is the Hindu fire-walking ceremony at the Sri Mariamman Temple in the centre of Chinatown on 9 October. At around 3am, Hindu devotees will walk across a four-metre pit of red-hot coals in honour of the bravery of the goddess Draupadi and in a test of their endurance and faith.
On 14 October, visitors can also check out Utsav 2006 which is a street procession along Race Course Road featuring some 20 performances ranging from traditional folk dances to specially choreographed sequences. This showcase of Indian performance arts will feature more than 250 artistes from India and Singapore and underscore the cultural significance of Deepavali. Spectacular fireworks and a rousing concert by some renown performing artistes will round off Utsav 2006.
Q: And there’ll be more lights with Hari Raya Puasa of course.
A: Definitely! Hari Raya Puasa is a day of forgiveness and a time of thanksgiving for Muslims, marking the end of a month long fasting period known as Ramadan. Here in Singapore, preparations start at least one month before Hari Raya. Geylang Serai and Kampong Glam come alive with festive bazaars and food stalls offering traditional Malay fare.
Our celebration theme this year is 'Hari Raya – A Celebration for All' and the highly anticipated street lightups and festivities will last from 22 September to 31 October. For the first time, Hari Raya festivities will centre on Kampong Glam – a historically rich area which was once the historic seat of Malay royalty and now an important ethnic precinct of the Malay community. Visitors to the area will be treated to the hustle and bustle of festive bazaars not only on Kandahar Street but on Ophir Road as well.
Also a first this year is the live telecast of two shows – staged during the official launch of the lightup and for countdown to Hari Raya Puasa – both at Kampong Glam. Besides the buzz at Kampong Glam, Geylang Serai will continue to offer the highly anticipated festive bazaars and food stalls.
Q: What is the story behind the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival?
A: It’s celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. This is a time when families and friends gather to enjoy the full moon and savour mooncakes with fragrant tea.
According to legend, at the time when Mongolians ruled China during the Yuan Dynasty, unhappy citizens plotted a revolution against the Mongolians. To coordinate this revolt without raising suspicion, the leaders of the rebellion ordered these special cakes to be made. Buried within the cakes were messages outlining a coup. The revolution was successfully carried out on Mid-Autumn day and the Mongolians were defeated.
Other legends revolve around a lady called Chang-Er and the moon. Chang-Er, also known as the Lady of the Moon, floated to the moon after swallowing the elixir of eternal life belonging to her husband. Legend has it she lives in loneliness in the Moon Palace on the moon.
Some versions of the story also claim that the Jade Rabbit, who is said to prepare medicine for the gods with a pestle and mortar, is her pet. Many women pray to the Moon, or Chang-Er, to be blessed with fertility, abundant harvest and prosperity.
Q: Will the celebrations will be as colourful as the legends?
A: For sure! From 23 September to 15 October, Chinatown will be lit up with giant colourful lanterns based on the legend of Chang-Er. Besides the spectacular festive lighting and lit floral-themed arches spanning the streets of Chinatown, visitors and locals can also enjoy the friendly bustle of the street bazaars offering a wide variety of mooncakes and other festive delights.
Besides dazzling fireworks on the opening night, children and adults alike can take part in a traditional lantern procession and later, enjoy street performances on Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road.
The festivities extend to Orchard Road where visitors can expect the widest varieties of mooncakes on sale in Singapore at the basement atrium of Ngee Ann City. | 
