Insight: A Potpourri of Festivals

Where else can you see the entire district being illuminated with colourful lanterns, watch bodies being pierced and skewered without bleeding, and burn money for the dead?

Singapore is a fascinating melting pot of Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasians and expatriates from around the region and the West. Add to this a diversity of religions and you have a virtual kaleidoscope of rituals and ceremonies – some of which seem strange to the foreign eye. The Chinese make up the majority, and their distinctive cultural identity is manifested in many customary and religious practices, both Buddhist and Taoist, and often a combination of both. Despite the city’s outward modernity, Chinese temples are bustling and noisy places thronged with devotees going about their rituals. Most Hindu temples and Muslim mosques also welcome visitors, but make sure that you’re modestly attired (no shorts or revealing tops) and remember to remove your footwear before entering. There is always something going on at these places – all of which provide ample fodder for avid photographers.

In an intense and dramatic demonstration of belief and devotion, the body of a Hindu devotee is pierced with spikes and skewers as he carries a heavy steel kavadi decorated with peacock feathers and flowers during a Thaipusam festival procession. This almost inhuman feat requires devotees to undergo weeks of rigorous spiritual preparation before they can take part in this ritualistic journey. During their tranced state, no blood is shed even with steel rods pierced into their tongues, cheeks and other parts of the body – definitely not a sight for the squeamish. The procession also sees some devotees walking on a bed of nails.

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Festival light-ups and decorations

The Christmas light-up on Orchard Road is a yearly tradition; the street is set ablaze with thousands of fairy lights, and shopping malls deck their facades with decorations in the spirit of the season. From snowmen to log houses and larger-than-life Santa Claus figures, almost every Yuletide cliche is played out – never mind that it’s alien to local culture.

Another colourful festival to look out for is the Chinese Lunar New Year. In the days leading up to it, the streets of Chinatown are decorated with lights and lined with bazaar stalls selling festive food like waxed duck and barbecued meats. The excitement culminates on the eve when revellers congregate to ring in the Lunar New Year and watch a dramatic fireworks display.

Likewise, Deepavali sees a riot of neon lights on the streets in Little India at Serangoon Road, while Geylang Serai is all abuzz during the Muslim festival of Hari Raya Puasa.