The Colors of Singapore: The Annual Rituals and Festivals on the Island

By Asif R. Chowdhury

During various times of the year, parts of Singapore are lit up in bright lights and brilliant colors, celebrating the multicultural and multifaith heritage of the city-state. With a population of about six million people, cultural and religious diversity is one of the key hallmarks of Singapore. Regarding ethnicity, about 75% of the population is Chinese, 14% Malay, and 9% Indian, and the balance consists of various other groups of people from different parts of the world. The country is equally diverse from its religious standpoint – about 31% of the population is Buddhist, 19% Christian, 16% Muslim, 5% Hindu, and less than 1% of the population is Sikh. In comparison, 20% of the people do not identify with any particular religion (based on 2020 census data).

The country’s true hallmark lies in how all these people from different cultures, religions, traditions, and ethnicities peacefully coexist on this tiny island. The dates of most of the key religious celebrations are part of national government holidays. Eight of the eleven public holidays are related to various religions and cultures. Just go through the list of the official holidays in the calendar year to get a feel for these celebrations of diversity. Many festivals and celebrations are rooted in the different religions, while some are more cultural. The following section provides a list and a brief description of some of the more meaningful, fun, and colorful festivals celebrated in Singapore.

New Year’s Day: The year starts with the countdown leading to the New Year, followed by a mesmerizing fireworks display across the island. As the clock strikes midnight on the first day of January, the new year is welcomed with a bang. The best and most well-known public event takes place by the waterfront: The Marina Bay Singapore Countdown and Fireworks. There are also pockets of festivities in all the popular spots, such as Clarke Quay, the famous shopping strip of Orchard Road, Siloso Beach Party at Sentosa Island, and Boat Quay, as well as in other popular party spots in Singapore.

Thaipusam: Usually observed in February, Thaipusam is an annual Hindu festival celebrated in honor of the Hindu god Lord Murugan, also known as Lord Subramaniam, who signifies power, youth, virtue and is known as the demolisher of evil. Thai is a month in the Tamil calendar, and Pusam is the name of a star. During the month of Thai, the Pusam star is at its highest point in the sky. Thus, the Thaipusam festival is celebrated during the full moon day. Thaipusam is observed after weeks of a strict vegetarian diet. On this day, the local Hindu Tamil community gathers for this annual two-day festival, where over 50,000 people crowd the streets of Singapore in a colorful and lively procession. Hindu devotees seek blessings, offer gratitude, and fulfill their dutiful vows by carrying milk pots that symbolize fertility and abundance and various colorful altars. The most pious devotees pierce their bodies and tongues with steel skewers, rods, and hundreds of needles, which are tethered to kavadi, a structure which can weigh up to 30kg, which they carry. This arduous 4.5-kilometer, barefoot walk of faith stretches from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. They are usually cheered on by close friends and families, who walk together with them while carrying palkudam (devotional milk pots). It is a spectacle to see and experience and onlookers are welcome. Little India comes alive during the festival, offering many hawker food stalls along Serangoon Road and Tank Road. Several hawker stalls are on the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list, and some have even been awarded the prestigious Michelin Star, which is definitely gourmet food at very reasonable prices.

Chinese New Year: The Lunar New Year is among the most anticipated celebrations and joyous occasions for the local Chinese community. It signifies the beginning of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Also known as the Spring Festival in Singapore, it typically falls between the end of January and the beginning of March. The country gets into a joyous mood as almost all of Singapore is gorgeously decorated with red and golden colors, many Chinese lanterns, and massive light displays. Complementing that dazzling sight of kaleidoscopic color is the fragrant smell of many traditional Chinese snacks and treats. The epitome of the celebration occurs in the ethnic quarter of Chinatown, which comes to life with all kinds of celebrations, including the lion and dragon dances. It is a unique experience to navigate through the crowded streets of Chinatown in the weeks leading up to the Chinese New Year. Many companies and shops celebrate by having their own lion dance to get the new year’s blessing. The festivities run for 15 days. Traditionally, it is time for families to get together, and many travel overseas to be with their loved ones. Family and friends exchange hongbao (gifts of money in red envelopes), small Mandarin trees, and oranges to signify good fortune. One of the more Singaporean traditions known as lo hei, also known as yu sheng, is a key highlight of the season where families, friends, and colleagues come together to “toss up a good fortune” by literally using chopsticks to toss a mixture of thinly sliced raw fish and shredded vegetables, seasonings, and condiments –added one by one in a specific order. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. The Chingay Festival is a massive and uniquely Singaporean street parade celebrating Chinese New Year that has evolved into an annual iconic event showcasing Singapore’s rich and unique multiethnic and cosmopolitan cultures. This year, the parade will be held on February 23 and 24.

Vesak Day: Buddhists in Singapore and around the world honor this day to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. Celebrated on the full moon day towards the end of May, the faithful come together to renew their resolution to lead a life of humility, morality, and simplicity to follow in the path of Buddha’s teachings. Vesak’s festivities start as the sun rises with devotees congregating at temples with offerings of flowers, candles, and joss sticks to represent the transient and ephemeral nature of life while the more devout perform a “Three Steps, One Bow” ritual to express repentance. Beautiful and peaceful candlelight processions also characterize Vesak Day through the streets and the ‘bathing’ of a Buddha statue, a must-see for locals and visitors alike. As the Buddhist community reflects on life, they perform good deeds by visiting elders in the hospitals, donating blood, and releasing caged animals to symbolize liberation.

Easter and Good Friday: A significant celebration for Christians worldwide to commemorate Jesus’ earthly demise, it is a public holiday in Singapore. Churches across the island offer various events, from meaningful sermons and friendly services to skits and musical productions commemorating the pious occasion. Various local communities and clubs also organize popular cultural Easter Egg Hunt events, like the American Association which will be hosting a hunt at XCL American Academy on March 17, 2024.

Hari Raya Puasa: Marking the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, the Muslim festival of Hari Raya Puasa, commonly known worldwide as Eid al-Fitr, is the most important holiday in the Islamic world. Muslims believe the sacred month of Ramadan to be the holiest month of the year. During this month, Muslims worldwide not only fast by abstaining from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset but also refrain from bad habits and thoughts as a commitment to purify the body and the soul. The end of the 30-day fasting marks the Hari Raya Puasa celebration. Local Muslims start the day by praying in the local mosques and spend the morning meeting with family, friends, and neighbors. They wear eye-catching traditional clothing and prepare for a lavish, home-cooked feast to enjoy together with family and friends. For non-observers, the days can be equally festive as all of Singapore will be buzzing with celebration and festivities in the form of lively night bazaars at Geylang Serai, where they sell delicious, traditional Malay snacks, ethnic trinkets, clothes, and jewelry. Colorful decorations adorning the streets, the bustling crowds, and exquisite cultural performances of Malay song and dance create a joyous atmosphere, which captivates many observers. The Hari Raya lights at Geylang Serai are one of the festival's biggest highlights.

Hari Raya Haji: More widely known as Eid al-Adha, it is a very important Muslim festival where followers reflect on the story of God commanding Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail, which the prophet heeds. Of course, God intervened, allowing Ibrahim to offer a sheep instead at the last minute. Today, across the Muslim world, that sacrifice is commemorated on this holy day by sacrificing sheep, goats, cows, or camels. The ritual known as korban is an integral part of the festival and represents the Prophet Ibrahim’s faith and trust in God. Mosques around Singapore take part in the ritual where sheep or goats will be sacrificed during the Korban. One-third of the meat is given to people in need, and the rest is distributed among the family members of those who offered the animals for sacrifice. In Malay, Hari Raya Haji means the ‘end of the great Haj’ as the occasion also marks the end of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Haj.

The day starts with Muslims across the island saying morning prayers in the local mosques, followed by the korban ritual. The rest of the day is spent meeting and spending time with family and friends, usually followed by a lavish mouthwatering dinner.

National Day: Singapore’s Independence Day is a significant annual event on August 9. The celebration showcases national pride and patriotism as its diverse citizens from all walks of life come together to pay tribute to the founding of modern Singapore. It is a spectacular festival commemorating the country’s short but unique history, its courageous rise to independence in 1965, and becoming an economic powerhouse in the region. Many events and concerts are held across the island, but the most spectacular one is the National Day Parade, where boys and girls in uniform march in precision under a helicopter fly-past. This festival is witnessed by around 25,000 spectators each year and is held at the famous Marina Bay. Besides the parade, the highlights of National Day include the Presidential Gun Salute and the Grand Finale, a 45-minute performance followed by a stunning fireworks show that lights up the sky. Wearing red and white is strongly encouraged to represent the National Flag.

Mid-Autumn Festival: Also known as the Lantern Festival, the Chinese celebrate it during the full moon, which falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It usually falls in late September or early October. The Mid-Autumn Festival is about family and is especially enjoyable for children as they play with colorful lanterns around their neighborhood. Family members usually gather outside under the full moon to enjoy an evening of mooncakes, fruits, and tea. The mooncake, a traditional Chinese pastry eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a hallmark of the occasion. Companies, shops, families, and friends exchange mooncakes as gifts during this season, which usually come in exquisite boxes. Every year, local bakeries and restaurants use this occasion to come up with creative twists to the traditional mooncake, infusing popular flavors such as durian, strawberry, and even truffles. A giant lantern is displayed in Chinatown throughout the month to mark this joyous occasion. Like the Chinese Lunar New Year, it is another good time to visit Chinatown and enjoy and experience the season’s exquisite sights, sounds, colors, and tastes.

Deepavali: Also known as Diwali in India, this is the ‘festival of lights.’ Typically falling in October or November, it is the most significant festival of the local Hindu Indian community. Deepavali is a five-day festival representing the triumph of goodness over evil or light over darkness. In Hindu mythology, it marks the day of Lord Rama Krishna’s victory over King Narakasura and his subsequent return to his kingdom, signifying the triumph of good over evil, light conquering darkness. Celebrations in Little India begin weeks ahead of time. Little India bursts into life with hundreds of meters of decorative lighting along the main thoroughfare, bazaars, and celebratory activities. The Hindu community across Singapore celebrates the festival, spreading joy and cheer. Devotees flock to the temples to offer their prayers. The bright lights, the scent of floral garlands and incense, the colorful stalls filled with traditional snacks, embroidered sari (traditional Indian womenswear), the dazzling display of gold jewelry, and thousands of bangles will likely create a sensory overload for the first-timers, but it is well worth the experience. This joyous festival revolves around the family and the community. The festival is also characterized by people visiting loved ones, paying respect at temples, lighting oil lamps, exchanging sweets, lighting sparklers, and partaking in family feasts and dinners. The oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, the Sri Mariamman Temple, also hosts a fiery spectacle during the week leading up to Deepavali. To watch thousands of devotees walk on burning charcoal as a tribute to the goddess Sri Drowpathai Amman is a sight one will not easily forget.

Christmas: For Singaporean Christians, the season brings families and communities together in churches for prayers and midnight masses. But it is also a joyous celebration for all Singaporeans as many streets and shopping malls are decorated in colorful lights while playing melodious Christmas songs and carols. With the favorite pastimes of Singaporeans being eating and shopping, this is the perfect season for them to indulge in what they like to do the most. Restaurants offer special Christmas menus for in-house dining and delivery, just as retail outlets lure shoppers with promotional sales. The best place to see the lights and decorations is along Orchard Road, with shopping malls and stores showcasing their themed decorations and Christmas trees, turning the entire street into a parade of lights. There are some spectacular Christmas Trees around the island, with the tallest one usually showcased at the Star Vista, which stands over 20 meters high. And Gardens by the Bay traditionally does a giant Christmas market and fair. Closer to home, AAS works with The American Club, the US Embassy and many American businesses to gather toys for less privileged children in our annual Toys for Tots drive.

In Singapore, one can experience and learn about the celebrations, rituals, and festivals of different faiths and cultures without leaving the city-state. Being in Singapore, all the events are naturally well organized and well planned. It is highly recommended for locals, visitors, and expats alike to immerse in the delightful sights and sounds and indulge in the rich flavors and tastes offered during all these diverse festivities. For the newcomers, some of them may seem like an assault on the senses, but they all will indeed be well-worth and satisfying experiences.