Mr Zainudin Nordin
Mayor, Central Singapore CDC

Mr Raja Ram Bawajee,
Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board

Mr Rajkumar Chandra,
Chairman,
Little India Shopkeepers & Heritage Association

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to join you this evening at the 2007 Deepavali Light Up Ceremony. This marks the ninth year that the organisers - the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) and the Little India Shopkeepers & Heritage Association (LISHA), with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC), are bringing the spirit of Deepavali to Little India.

2 Deepavali is a special time for Indian Hindus – it is a time of celebration. The Indian Diaspora all over the world rejoices in this festival with as much enthusiasm as their counterparts living in the Indian sub-continent. Deepavali in Singapore is celebrated with no less fervor. In the last few years, there has been a reported increase in pre-Deepavali business in Little India. According to the Singapore Tourism Board, last year, the Tekka area alone saw a 16% increase in visitorship during the Deepavali festive month. An estimated 1.4 million Singaporeans and tourists visited Little India during Deepavali.

3 Little India is a place full of charm and buzz, and it has contributed to making Singapore a vibrant and distinctive city. At the Pongal Celebrations in January this year, I mentioned that a Task Force has been formed to look into how we can improve Little India’s physical environment. The Task Force has almost completed its work. In the next few months, it will be consulting the Advisers and grassroots of this area before finalising its proposals. Let me assure all stakeholders of Little India that we are very mindful that the beauty of Little India lies in its spontaneity. I have reminded the Task Force to consult widely with all relevant and interested parties so that we will retain the unique characteristics of Little India as much as possible, while balancing the needs of residents, shopkeepers and visitors.

4 While improvements to the area are being planned, I urge all the stakeholders here to also play their part in making this area a lively, vibrant and safe place for Singaporeans and tourists alike to enjoy. In this regard, I am please to note several new developments for this year’s Deepavali Light Up. First is the addition of festive street lighting to eight important side roads within Little India. These additional roads house some of the most popular shopping and dining facilities in the district. On behalf of the organizers, I would like to thank all the stakeholders from the newly lit side roads for your support to bring the festivities to more areas within Little India.

5 In addition to Utsav - a lively street parade in November, a Deepavali Countdown Concert has been planned this year as a new addition to the annual celebrations. This inaugural Deepavali Countdown Concert would be televised live on MediaCorp TV 12’s Vasantham Central on the eve of Deepavali.

6 Little India’s Deepavali celebration is not just a festive celebration but also one that inculcates greater social responsibility. Every year non-profit, charitable and welfare organizations are invited as partners to the festivities. This year, the organisers have invited the Singapore Indian Development Association to set up a stall at the Deepavali festival village where festive shoppers and visitors can donate funds and gifts for the less fortunate Singaporeans.

7 I hope Singaporeans from all walks of life will visit Little India especially during this festive season. This is an excellent opportunity for all of us to learn more about the festival and the people who celebrate it. The National Library Board has set up a comprehensive exhibition on Deepavali at the Festival Village.

8 For putting together a very vibrant month of celebrations, I must congratulate the organisers Hindu Endowments Board and Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association. Your effort to preserve your culture and heritage is commendable. I would also like to thank STB and Central Singapore CDC for your support.

9 I would like to wish each and every one here a very pleasant evening, and to all Hindu Singaporeans, a very Happy Deepavali.

Thank you.

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