Singapore Festivals and Events

This famous Hindu festival has to be witnessed to be believed. In a gesture of penance and seeking forgiveness from the gods, male Hindu devotees make the 3-kilometre walk from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to Sri Thandayuthapani Temple, laden with enormous kavadi, or portable shrines.

The kavadi is pierced to the devotees' body by spikes and skewers; it is normally borne on the body, and sometimes dragged by the devotee like a chariot. Supporters of the kavadi-bearer gather around him, chanting prayers, clapping and shouting their encouragement along the way. This fascinating, logic-defying ceremony lasts the entire day, and observers are welcome.

The River Hong Bao Festival is an annual fair that takes place at the breezy waterfront area near Marina Promenade. The fair is usually built along the theme of the relevant Chinese zodiac symbol for that coming year. Expect huge floats depicting the animals of the Chinese zodiac, as well as huge statues of the Gods of Fortune and Wisdom, colourful temples and bridges, and "cherry blossom" trees everywhere. The stalls will feature the best in arts and crafts, Chinese calligraphy, and even palm reading, from Taiwan and China. Cultural performances will be held nightly.

This is, without a doubt, the most important festival of the Chinese lunar calendar. Also known as the Lunar New Year, this festive period lasts for 15 days and usually falls during the months of January and February. The whole island seems to stop to celebrate this special period, but the liveliest events, of course, are to be found at Chinatown.

The night before the first day of Chinese New Year, Chinese people all over Singapore make it a point to rush home for the annual family reunion dinner, which marks the start of a period of feasting. Chinese New Year cookies such as love letters and pineapple tarts (a Singapore-Malaysia invention), barbecued pork and sumptuous Chinese dinners are usually featured.Another New Year specialty which originated in Singapore and Malaysia is yu sheng, or raw fish in a colourful bed of salad. The fish symbolises a prosperous life, and each colour in the salad brings a special significance as well. Yu sheng is not meant to be nibbled at demurely, you have to eat it with a whole bunch of people who will all dig in their chopsticks and toss the salad as high as possible. This noisy ritual is called lo hei, and is meant to bring you good health and luck for the rest of the year.

If you visit the home of your Chinese friends during this period, bring along a pair of mandarins as a token of good fortune. You will probably get hong baos in return; these are red packets containing money, and are, not surprisingly, kids' favourite part of Chinese New Year. Wish your hosts Gong Xi Fa Cai, it's the traditional greeting during the celebration and means you wish them lots of prosperity and good fortune.

In the weeks running up to Chinese New Year, Chinatown's the place to be. Colourful stalls line the streets, selling everything from red and gold greeting cards to love-letters cookies to pussy willow (a symbol of longevity). You'll smell incense and see little altars everywhere, as the Chinese make offerings to their gods.

Two other major events are held in Singapore in connection to Chinese New Year - the River Hong Bao Festival and the Chingay Parade.

The Chingay Parade is the biggest parade in Singapore. Originating as a procession to mark the Chinese New Year festivities, the parade has evolved into an international event, featuring everything from Taiwanese acrobats to salsa dancers.

The atmosphere is definitely carnival-like, as the procession of dancers, gymnasts, beauty queens and children make their way from City Hall to Suntec City. You can catch them at any point along the way, although there are designated spots where the dancers and acrobats will stop to stage their performances. Look out for traditional Chinese performances, such as lion dances, alongside cultural shows from countries as far-flung as Denmark and Papua New Guinea.

During the Qing Ming Festival, temples are fully packed with Chinese believers who flock there at the crack of dawn. Throughout the day, families wrestle shoulder-to-shoulder amidst thick smoke of burning joss sticks; their hands full with Chinese pastries and all kinds of food and incense for their ancestors. For some, Qing Ming is a trip to the cemetery where family members clean up the graves of their ancestors and offer prayers in remembrance of the deceased. The best place to observe the ceremonies is Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple at Sin Ming Road.

Good Friday is an important religious day for many Christians and it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In churches all over Singapore, special prayer services are held. At the St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Victoria Street, Catholics clasp white candles in a moving procession bearing the figure of the crucified Christ.

Vesak Day For Buddhists the world over marks the birthday of the Lord Gautama Buddha. In Singapore, the many followers of Buddha pay a visit to the various Buddhist temples dotting the island for a day of worship and prayer.

Priests in the newest saffron-coloured robes chant blessings and sprinkle holy water at the devotees, and for many Buddhists this is the time to re-dedicate themselves to the central teachings of Gautama - moderation and the release from worldly desires. In many temples, priests will release a flock of doves from a cage, to signify humanity's freedom from earthly bondages.

Priests in the newest saffron-coloured robes chant blessings and sprinkle holy water at the devotees, and for many Buddhists this is the time to rededicate themselves to the central teachings of Gautama - moderation and the release from worldly desires. In many temples, priests will release a flock of doves from a cage, to signify humanity's freedom from earthly bondages.

The fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar is not only a day to enjoy rice dumplings wrapped in leaves or to watch the dragon boat races. Legend has it that on this day, Qu Yuan, a patriot of ancient China, threw himself into the Mi Luo River in protest against corruption and injustice. The story goes that when the fishermen heard of Qu Yuan's suicide, they immediately set forth in their boats to look for him. Thus began the tradition of having dragon boat races . Desperate to prevent fish from devouring his body, fishermen also threw rice into the river - thus beginning this delightful tradition of dumpling eating.

Singapore Triathlon is an annual event organised by Triathlon Association of Singapore (TAS). The triathlon would require the athlete to swim 1.5km in the open sea, cycle 40km and run a gruelling 10km. In addition to the above, there are different distance for various other race categories (Students, corporate, mini-triathlon) The event is part of the Asia-Cup Series, where elite athletes are able to gain points for the ranking amongst triathletes in Asia.

The Mooncake Festival is also known as the Lantern Festival or the Mid-Autumn Festival, and occurs usually in the month of September. It is held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. In ancient China, it was the celebration of a bountiful harvest in the middle of autumn.

Many romantic legends surround this festival. One tale tells of how the Chinese succeeded in overthrowing the Yuan dynasty through a series of secret messages tucked into round, sweet pastries made of flour, oil and lotus seed - mooncakes. Another legend has it that the moon became the final abode of the legendary Chang Er and her pet rabbit - and on a clear night, one might just see them!

Today, these legends live on in the eating of mooncakes - they come in many different varieties now, even "mocha cream" - and the lighting of lanterns. On the night of the festival, children light up brightly-coloured lanterns in the shape of fishes, squirrels or butterflies (the more enterprising have Hello Kitty) and many corners in the suburbs become a regular fairyland of lights.

In the streets of Chinatown, the stalls are stocked with mooncakes and other tidbits, and events such as bonsai competitions and tea-making demonstrations. This is also the ideal time to go for an evening stroll in the Chinese Gardens in Jurong - hundreds of Chinese lanterns adorn the park, making for a very pretty sight indeed.

This Chinese festival lasts for nine days. Following the Chinese lunar calendar,it is usually held during September and/or October. Activites centre around the Nine Emperor Gods Temple at Upper Serangoon Road (near Little India!). You will find the temple near Yio Chu Kang Road.

This is a noisy celebration, as Chinese worshippers welcome the visitation of the Nine Emperor Gods who bring good fortune, longevity and health to the sound of drums and cymbals. Priests write out protective charms with their blood, and the festival climaxes with a parade of the nine gods, each carried in a large and elaborate sedan chair.

This Hindu festival lasts the entire month of October, although nine nights are singled out as days of especial celebration. Navarathiri means "nine lights" in Tamil, and this festival is dedicated to the Hindu goddesses Dhurga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. The event is celebrated in the various Indian temples across Singapore, where special prayers and performances of traditional Indian music and dance are held in the evenings.

The centrepiece of the festivities is at the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple at Tank Road, which for nine nights echoes with the sound of worship, dance and celebration. A vibrant procession of Hindu devotees - led by a beautiful glittering horse - is held on the tenth night.

This famous Hindu fire-walking ceremony brings out the devotees and the tourists alike. On October at the Sri Mariamman Temple in the centre of Chinatown, Hindu devotees walk across a 4-metre pit of red-hot coals in honour of the bravery of the goddess Draupadi. They complete the fire-walking ceremony, a test of endurance and faith, walk miraculously unhurt.

The day-long Thimithi festival celebrations begin at 2pm, with the fire-walking ceremony starting at 5pm.

Deepavali, the most important date of the Hindu calendar, occurs on one day during October, and in the ethnic quarter of Little India, the festivities last practically for the whole month of October.

Deepavali is the Festival of Lights, and marks the defeat of the evil Narakasura by the Lord Khrishna. All round the world, Hindus celebrate this day as the triumph of light over darkness, and of good over evil. It marks the New Year for Hindu devotees, and is a great time of rejoicing and renewal.

During this time, Little India throbs with evening roadside stalls, booming music and strings of colourful lights. Shoppers throng the streets in search of the perfect sari to wear, or to fill their baskets with Indian foods and spices. Hindu homes are lighted with oil lamps, and offerings of sweetmeats and garlands of jasmine are placed at the family altar.

The streets and temples of Little India are lit up with streamers and fairy lights lining the streets and forming arches and gateways to the night bazaars.The Sri Veeramakaliamman, Sri Vadapathira Kaliammanand and Sri Srinivasa Perumal temples are garlanded in lights as the whole of Serangoon Road glitters to welcome the New Year.

Campbell Lane, meanwhile, takes on the mood of a street carnival for 21 days. The Deepavali Festival Village features stalls offering Indian costumes, jewelry, foods, furniture and arts and craft. Every evening except on Sundays, right up to the even of Deepavali, local and foreign artistes perform South and North Indian songs and dances.

Calling all marathon enthusiasts. The Marathon, an annual event in the local sports calendar features both the local and international athletes. The Marathon provides local participants with an opportunity to run with seasoned marathoners and learn the finer points of marathon running. The Singapore Sports Council also believes that the marathon is a test of not only endurance, but also one’s mental fitness. For those who love running long distances, completing a marathon is an ultimate goal.

Christmas, on December 25, is a time of full-blown celebration in Singapore. All the trappings of a traditional Christmas are here - Christmas carolling, late-night mass, nativity scenes, winking fir trees and gaily-wrapped presents.

You won't find snow, of course, in tropical Singapore, but no matter - the shopping malls are sprayed with "frost", and some even have special snow-making machines for the delight of children. High-tea and dinner at many hotels at this time will feature stuffed turkey, Christmas pudding and log cakes.

Christmas is when the shopping artery of Orchard Road basks in all its glory. From mid-November to early January, the street is festooned with streamers, holly and bells, and at night it is lit up by thousands of fairy lights The shopping malls play host to special Christmas performances and carolling groups. They also vie with each other to see who will carry away the annual Best Decorated Building title, so look out for some spectacular shop fronts and displays built around various themes.