Deepavali which is known as the Feastival of Lights in english is actually a five-day Hindu festival. This New Year festival takes its name from a Sanskrit word meaning a “row or cluster of lights”.

This festival takes place in the Hindu month of Karthika, which is October/November in the English calendar.

It marks both a new moon and a new year and is celebrated in honor of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune and consort of Vishnu. It is celebrated with worship, ceremonial displays of lights, and fireworks to chase away the spirits of the deceased.

The Indians in Sinagpore celebrate this festival in great style with the whole of Little India street being colourfully lit with lights.


Families taking oil bathes in the morning,visiting temples and their loved ones giving one another money as well as exchanging gifts. Childrens just love the festival as they get to eat their favourite sweets and play with fire crackers while visiting their loved ones!



Deepavali has always been the time for me to reunite with my family and friends. I always look forward to our deepavali shopping periods. This is the time where my family and I go to little India together to pick up some clothes for the auspicious event. The entire Little India would be very different from how it is on normal circumstances! The entire place would be lit with beautiful colored lights, which would be different every year!My sisters and I always look forward to my family’s shopping times as we get to go to Little India together with my cousins and family member. We will all eagerly enter the clothing stores to choose the most stylish and latest clothes, which we like the most. Also shopping for house decoration items would be done at this time. Specials greeting cards for the special occasion would be bought. These cards would then be delivered to relatives and dear ones to wish Deepavali greetings. Although this may seem like a weird thing especially in a high-technology world, people still continue this practice.

Deepavali is a time where all the relatives, far and near, would spend their time together with my family and I. Also the speciality of celebrating Deepavali in Singapore is that different race and religious friends would also be able to take part and celebrate this festival as one. My Chinese friends have also been part of my family by celebrating this auspicious occasion with me! Amazing isn't it?