Shawn Ambrose, Author at Goody Feed

Even though we're in the midst of a pandemic, everyone's getting in the festive mood. That's because Deepavali is just four days away! Celebrations will certainly look very different this year, thanks to the coronavirus and social distancing, but that doesn't mean we can't have a good time. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Deepavali falls on Saturday (14 Nov), which you would know if you've been to Little India lately. But what is there to do this year? Are there as many events as previous years? Here are 10 places to go for 2020's Deepavali: Be Dazzled By The Profusion Of Lights Along Serangoon Road If you've lived in Singapore for a considerable amount of time, you'd know that the most colourful part of the country is Little India during Deepavali. Or, more specifically, Serangoon Rood. Image: Facebook (Indian Heritage Centre) Take a drive, or better yet, a trishaw ride around Little India and admire the dazzling arrangement of lights which will surely liven your mood during this gloomy period. Trishaws will be available on Friday from the Indian Heritage Centre in Campbell Lane. Image: Facebook (Indian Heritage Centre) From there, it will take a round-trip journey and pass landmarks such as the Abdul Gafoor Mosque in Dunlop Street and the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple in Serangoon Road. The rides, which are organised by the centre, are available from 6pm to 7.45pm. It'd be a great way to kick off your Deepavali weekend. Get All Your Deepavali Essentials at Tekka Centre Need a gorgeous-looking saree for your upcoming celebrations? Want to adorn your house with diyas and rangolis before opening your door to visitors? Image: Google Maps Well, head down to Tekka Centre then! There, you'll get all your Deepavali essentials without making your wallets and purses cower in fear. Remember to bargain! Do More Shopping at D’ Bazaar Been to Tekka Centre a million times and sick of the same old stuff? D'Bazaar might prove to be a better shopping spot for all your Deepavali necessities. Till 15 Nov, the bazaar at Upper Dickson Road will offer a variety of ornaments, apparel, and even food, including accessories from For Desi By Desi, and sarees from The Pattu Kadai. Due to Covid-19, visits will only be permitted by appointment. 4. Indulge Your Sweet Tooth At Kailash Parbat As someone who has been to Kailash Prabat, I can tell you that it is one of the best Indian restaurants in the country. And since no Indian celebration is complete without some snacks and sweets, be sure to bring your family down to this lovely eatery and stuff your face with their delectable traditional sweets. They also have a mouthwatering assortment of traditional North Indian snacks, or chaat, which never disappoints. 5. Visit Singapore's Gorgeous Hindu Temples Deepavali, or Diwali, is a five-day festival of lights celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains across the world. It's a festival that celebrates new beginnings, as well as the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness. To truly experience this beautiful occasion, you can pay a visit to some of the most stunning Hindu temples in the country. The most famous is the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, a unique architectural construction and one of the country's oldest temples. Opened in 1881 along Serangoon Road, the temple is dedicated to the goddess and destroyer of evil, Kali. Another exquisitely designed temple is the Sri Sivan Temple, situated along Geylang East Ave 2. The temple was originally located in Potong Pasir from where it was moved three more times before finally coming to the present location. It was built in 1850 for the god Shiva, who is the presiding deity. 6. Visit The Indian Heritage Centre Get into the festive spirit with a trip to the Indian Heritage Centre, which will have an array of online and on-site activities to celebrate the Festival of Lights. In this year's digital offerings, members of the community will discuss the various customs and traditions of Deepavali and what the special festival means to them. In addition to this enriching experience, you can also head down to the centre on Campbell Lane to collect Deepavali-themed money packets. 7. Learn About Deepavali Traditions at the National Museum of Singapore The National Museum of Singapore will be offering a uniquely traditional experience for Deepavali celebrants this year. Visitors can enjoy a special music performance by Govin and Krsna Tan, two brothers who grew up in a Hindu household and celebrate Deepavali. The pair will play classical instruments unique to Indian culture, such as the tabla and sitar. You can also witness a lively exchange between an Ayurvedic practitioner and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, watch an artist create a Rangoli, and listen to acclaimed storyteller Kamini Ramachandran explain the importance of Deepavali, as well as share her own tales of celebration with you. And the best thing about it is that you can experience all this online, if you prefer to avoid public venues. 8. Have an Indian Feast at Shangri-La Hotel If you're planning on spoiling yourself silly with good Indian food this Saturday, there's a buffet in Shangri-La Hotel with your name on it. From 12 – 15 November, the hotel will be offering a luxurious Indian feast at The Line’s a la carte buffet. Diners will be able to get their hands and mouths on some scrumptious dishes, such as the Stuffed Baby Eggplant with Salmon Sauce, Garlic Grilled Fish, Crab Kofta with Moilee Sauce and Malai King Prawn, all offered exclusively for Deepavali. 9. Kaala Utsavam - The Indian Festival of Arts While this festival only starts on 20 Nov, Deepavali is celebrated for five days, and there'll still be something to do the following weekend if you're still in the festive spirit! This year's Indian Festival of Arts, or Kaala Utsavam, will feature Hindustani music performances, shadow puppetry, and dance productions, as well as a series of 10-minute Tamil plays. These events will be held at the Esplanade from 20-29 Nov, with some events carrying on into December. You can book tickets here. 10. Get Inked With Henna at Little India Arcade Henna hand designs have become a popular Deepavali trend not just among the Indian community but also among Malay and Chinese Singaporeans, as well as foreign tourists. Image: sokolander / shutterstock.com Get inked with some beautiful designs at Little India Arcade, where you can also get great food, addictive sweets, and cheap Indian trinkets! Featured Image: Facebook (Indian Heritage Centre)