Last Updated At: 15-Dec-2023
Singapore is a beautiful city-state where different cultures meet and cohabit in harmony. This cohabitation reflects the harmonious inter-faith celebration of cultural, religious, culinary and sports festivals. It has four official languages: Malay, Chinese, Tamil and English. Four significant ethnic communities are Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian.
You can feel the warmth and welcome of the peace-loving people of Singapore, which reflects in their respect for all religions, cultures, and humans. Therefore, you should plan a visit to experience the festivals of Singapore and explore beautiful cultural harmony with an outstanding display of art and crafts.
Singapore is known for grand shopping malls, colonial buildings, historically famous marts, high rises, and nightlife. Its wealth and glamour have been famous for decades. But the real treat is its multi-ethnic cultural harmony during religious and cultural festivals of different communities, including Chinese, Malay, Tamils, Buddhists and others.
We have shortlisted and sharing here the comprehensive list of festivals in Singapore that can add a lot more fun and create memories for your next vacation to Singapore. Check out dates, things to expect, and locations to take an informed decision.
SIFA is the renowned and globally acknowledged annual arts festival in Singapore. Arts House Limited organises this festival of arts for the National Arts Council. The festival includes various arts, including music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. It started in 1977 as the Singapore Arts Festival and was held twice a year until 1999. The Singapore International Festival of Arts was renamed in 2012 and became the annual month-long event.
Hari Raya Puasa or Hari Raya Aidilfitri denotes the conclusion of the month-long fasting of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Muslim populations in Singapore and worldwide celebrate the first day of the Syawal calendar (the 10th month of the Hijrah calendar) with much fanfare. Hari Raya means Celebration Day in Malay, and Puasa refers to Fasting.
Chinese Singaporeans constitute over 75% of the Citizens of Singapore. Therefore, you can see a grand celebration of Chinese New Year across Singapore. It is an annual event and the most important festival in Singapore for the Chinese community.
The event honours familial ancestors and traditional deities. Visit Singapore to experience this vibrant and colourful festival to make memories of a lifetime.
Tamil festivals Thaipusam and Pongal are popular religious festivals in Singapore because of the significant Tamil population in the City-State. They are around 2 lakhs and organise grand celebrations of their festivals.
Thaipusam, a festival of prayers and penance, is dedicated to Lord Murugan, also referred to as Lord Subramaniam. It is a significant religious festival for Tamil Hindus in Singapore and worldwide, wherever they reside.
According to ‘Skanda Purana’ on the day of Thaipusam, Lord Subramaniam, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, came on his Vahan peacock and appeared before his devotees.
Visit Singapore to experience the adrenaline rush at Dragon Boat Festival and savour on mouth-watering delicacies. The tradition of this festival in Singapore goes back to the Warring States Era of China.
The two significant elements of the festival are dumplings and dragon boat races.
A bonanza for foodies, Singapore Food Festival, is the experience of a lifetime. The annual culinary event combines several kitchens, organises a huge food fiesta and offers native and
international cuisines. It’s a sheer delight for your tastebuds. Plan your journey now for the 2023 edition. It was started in 1994 and organised by Singapore Tourism Board annually.
Also read about more: Top 15 Tourist Attractions Of Singapore That Will Leave Lasting Memories