I’m Severine, an expat in Singapore, a chocolate lover and travel enthusiast, and mum to two energetic boys; Nathan, 7, and Quentin, 10. We’ve been living in the Lion City for five years, and the island’s mix of cultures has amazed me from the moment we arrived. I quickly fell in love with the island and became fascinated by its history and rich traditions.
We are French, but we make sure to celebrate all of Singapore’s major festivals. It’s a fantastic way for us to learn about different beliefs as a family. We make a big deal out of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, and Deepavali, but with so many celebrations throughout the year, it’s challenging to fit them all in!
One of our favourite times is Deepavali (Diwali), the Festival of Lights. Taking place from 29 October – 3 November this year, it’s a special period for Indians to celebrate light winning over darkness. This message is especially meaningful for kids, reminding them to stay strong when things are tough.
Celebrating Deepavali with your children can be fun and educational. It’s a good chance to learn about Indian culture and the things we have in common with people from all around the globe. Living in Singapore, Nathan and Quentin are exposed to different languages and cultures every day, which helps them to become more open-minded. Read on for some ideas of activities to do with your kids during this year’s five-day Deepavali celebration.
Day 1: Out & About
Traditionally, people clean their homes and shop for new clothes to wear during the festivities to bring good fortune. Some may buy gold and kitchen utensils as well. If cleaning doesn’t sound like fun, Deepavali is the ideal opportunity to visit Little India. You can pick out decorations together. Most shops and the Festival Village along Campbell Lane sell items such as clothes, snacks, and festive trinkets. Look for peacock feathers for good luck, flower garlands, stencils, and coloured powders to make rangolis – bright, colourful, and intricate religious and symbolic designs. If your children enjoy dressing up, you can find beautiful Indian outfits for them too. While you’re there, pay a visit to these:
- Sri Veerama Kaliamman Temple: This vibrant temple offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about Hindu deities and their significance. Ask your children who can discover the most statues while appreciating the artistry and symbolism of each ( 141 Serangoon Road, 218042)
- Indian Heritage Centre: Check their website for special Deepavali activities like dance shows or workshops for kids ( indianheritage.gov.sg)
- Little India murals: There are fantastic murals in this area, and they offer a unique way to discover Indian culture and history. We love ‘tHIS is our STORY’ by Yip Yew Chong (Lembu Square), ‘Traditional Trades of Little India’ by Psyfool (Belilios Lane) and ‘Kathaka’ by Didier Mathieu (Upper Dickson Road)
- Indian snacks & sweets: Grab some yummy fare at the food bazaar or try sweet treats from a local shop. Komala Vilas Sweets ( 4 Upper Dickson Road, 207464) has a wide variety. If you don’t like crowds, do these activities on weekends leading up to Deepavali, as Little India gets busy during the celebrations
Day 2: Decorations
- People decorate their homes with clay lamps and rangolis. Locals create these stunning floor designs made with coloured powders, which can be quite complicated. Get ideas by watching YouTube with your kids. There are also stencils available from Mustafa Centre ( 145 Syed Alwi Road, 207704) or Lazada ( lazada.sg)
- Pick a spot and place the stencil on the floor (or a sturdy plate if you’re worried about the mess)
- Sprinkle some powder over the stencil and gently rub it in
- Carefully lift the stencil. Ta-da!
If you don’t have stencils, encourage your children to draw mandalas instead. (See above image).
- Draw a small circle.
- Think of it as a compass. Add triangles that point to North, South, East, and West.
- Add triangle points in between North, South, East, and West so you’ve got eight spaces to play with.
- Add a circle to the end of each triangle.
- Keep building your mandala! Each time you add something, be sure to include it in all eight slices of the pie. You can add circles, domes, triangles, squares, lines, waves, and outlines. This process keeps kids focused and calm.
Day 3: Party time!
The main day of Deepavali is all about family coming together and enjoying a big meal. Dress up for the occasion! Put on those clothes you bought in Little India, or wear bright, festive colours to celebrate. Order Indian food at home or visit a nearby Indian restaurant. My boys love egg or cheese prata (flatbreads), Murukku (crunchy and twisted deep-fried snacks made from chickpea flour and spices), and Ladoo (sweet balls made with flour, sugar, and ghee – the Indian butter). Don’t forget to light up your diyas! These clay lamps bring good fortune to your home.
Day 4: Happy New Year!
This is the first day of the new year, when friends and relatives visit with gifts.
Day 5: Creative Cooking
Traditionally, brothers visit their married sisters on this day, but if you’re not doing visitations, this is a chance to get creative in the kitchen. There are many easy Indian snack recipes online. Nathan and Quentin like making Nankhatai, a light, crisp, and delicious eggless cookie.
Play a guessing game with spices while you cook. Take a few common Indian spices (like star anise, coriander seeds, cloves, and cardamom), grind them up, and let your kids smell and try each one. Then, mix them together and see if your kids can identify each spice by smell, sight, and taste. Blindfold them for an extra challenge!
Severine Male is the founder of KiddoTrip, a self-guided tour platform for families.
kiddotrip.com
