Singapore — Events
Thimithi Festival
The major event at this Hindu festival is the breathtaking fire-walking ceremony in which devotees honor the goddess Draupadi. Legend has it that she proved her fidelity and innocence to her husband by walking barefoot over burning coals, and Hindu priests and devotees demonstrate their faith, courage and endurance by walking across a 21-foot (7m) pit of glowing coals without showing any signs of pain. In this test of purity devotees believe that they will only be burnt if they are impure. Afterwards they wade through a pit of goat’s milk and then stain their feet with yellow turmeric.
Thaipusam
Thaipusam is a Hindu festival in honor of Lord Subramaniam, son of Shiva, and is a day of purification and penance during which devotees make offerings of thanks for blessings received through fulfilment of vows. The festival centers on the two-mile (4km) procession of penitents who carry ‘kavadis’ (large wood or metal frames) hung with offerings such as milk, honey or flowers and decorated with bells and peacock feathers.
Chinese New Year
Lunar New Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is a time to exchange well wishes and gifts of good fortune. The streets of Chinatown become lit with red lanterns, twinkling lights and elaborate decorations, fireworks color the sky and busy street bazaar stalls are laden with Chinese delicacies and symbols of prosperity and good luck. Part of the festivities is the Chingay Parade, the largest and grandest street procession in the country, which is a multi-cultural and cosmopolitan parade featuring some of the finest performing groups from around the world.
Singapore Arts Festival
Recognised as one of Asia’s top arts festivals, the Singapore Arts Festival is a celebration of dance, drama and music from around the world, embracing classical as well as the avant-garde, cultural diversity and the latest in artistic innovation. Audiences are treated to performances of creative freedom, from ballet to street shows within the Festival Village and on the fringes, as well as workshops and talks in venues throughout the city.
Festival of the Hungry Ghosts
For a month each year Taoists believe the gates of Hell are opened to allow the spirits of the dead to roam the earth. To appease these ghosts, outdoor entertainment and lavish feasts are offered to satisfy the restless spirits and to ward off bad fortune in their lives. Celebratory dinners are held, and shows and concerts such as traditional puppetry and Chinese opera take place on every street corner.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Taking place on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, this festival is sometimes referred to as ‘Lantern Festival’ (not to be confused with the Lantern Festival which ends Chinese New Year) or ‘Mooncake Festival’ in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines due to the intergral part moon cakes play in the festival. It commemorates the 14th-century revolution led by Yuan Zhang who smuggled notes inside moon cakes and used lighted lanterns as a signal to launch the revolt.
Singapore Grand Prix
Come and experience the electrifying atmosphere of the Grand Prix as never before - at night! The world’s first Formula One night race is hosted alongside Singapore’s Marina Bay, offering walkabouts, musical entertainment and, of course, all the thrills of the world’s most notorious racing event.
