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Grassroots with passion
in Little India to Visit This Six Iconic Places Deepavali
Aswebegin toemerge fromthedreary tunnel of 2020’s global pandemic, themulticoloured lights ofDeepavali are a welcome sight to Singaporeans of all walks of life. With the lamps and banners lining Serangoon Road, we are starting to see the early signs of normalcy returning to our Lion City. This year, the focus of the annual decorations is the Goddess Mahalakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and abundance and the companion of Lord Vishnu. The centerpiece of the decorations features Goddess Mahalakshmi seated on a great lotus with her hand outstretched in varadamudra , the gesture of compassion and giving.
While the road ahead of us is still long, there is amyriad of ways to celebrateDeepavali despite the restrictions in place. Here are six must-see places around Little India to visit during the grand festival of lights.
Tuck Into Authentic Cuisine at The Banana Leaf Apolo There are few things that can get you into the festival spirit like the taste and aroma of local cuisine. Andwhere better to start than Singapore’s original banana leaf restaurant: The Banana Leaf Apolo. After its opening in 1974, The Banana Leaf Apolo rocketed to success, much like the lunar mission of its namesake. It quickly became a household name for bringing the ancient Indian tradition of banana leaf dining to our shores. Regular favourites at the restaurant include mouthwatering dishes such as fish head curry, mutton mysore, Apolo chickenmasala, and a selection of naan for every palate. There is also a wide variety of vegetarian options if you are on a meat-free diet. If your tastebuds are starting to tingle, then head for the brightly lit, emerald green letters on 54 Race Course Road or their second location at 48 Serangoon Road. For more information and a peek at their menu, visit thebananaleafapolo. com
Appreciate the Vibrant Street Murals Around Little India
Delight Your Senses at Tekka Marketplace
Everyone knows Tekka Market but to leave it off this list would be a travesty. Just the mere mention of its name would bring back a flood of fond memories of the sights, sounds, and sumptuous food there. The hawker and market stalls are a testament to our diversity, offering a taste of every culture’s cuisine. Feeling a little bogged down by modern day struggles? Tekka is the perfect place to wind back the clock and experience the Singapore of yesteryear; when wet markets were much more than just a place to buy groceries. While the regular Deepavali events like the Hipster Bazaar may not be running this year, with all that it has to offer, Tekka can still be your one- stop shop for an enjoyable day out in Little India. Tekka Marketplace is located in Tekka Centre which is a skip across the road from Little India MRT Station.
Deepavali is a festival synonymous with lively, kaleidoscopic colours and the street murals speckled around Little India are a fitting sight to behold this season. January 2020 marked the 6th anniversary of the annual ARTWALK Little India, a joint event between LASALLE College of the Arts and Singapore Tourism Board. While the event has come and gone, the murals are still illuminating the walls and alleys today. Starting on Clive Street, just beyond the Indian Heritage Centre, the art trail wraps around to Race Course Road, displaying unique works from some of our talented, homegrown artists. From the charming tradition of parrot fortune telling to the local icon of the tiffin deliveryman, these murals offer insights into Indian and Singaporean culture, both old and new. To plan your very own art walk, jump on to artwalk.sg/area/little-india/ where you can viewamap of the trail.
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