Singapore - For the second time in a row, Singapore will celebrate three ethnic festivals at the same time this year.
A slew of activities have been lined up from September to November to mark Hari Raya Puasa, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Deepavali.
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 25, Hari Raya Puasa on October 13 and Deepavali on November 8.
Two spectacular light-up ceremonies will mark the start of the Hari Raya celebrations.
Geylang Serai will be awash in bright lights on September 8, followed by Kampong Glam a day later.
A highlight will be traditional street bazaars that will be held all the way till October 21.
Chinatown and the banks of the Singapore River will also be transformed with a multitude of lanterns, street lighting and street bazaars from this weekend till the end of September.
Little India will come alive with lights and street carnivals from October 12 till November 18 to celebrate Deepavali, the Festival of Lights.
For the first time, the Singapore Tourism Board is organising free walking tours in Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India to allow visitors to immerse themselves in the culture of Singapore‘s ethnic communities.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com (4 September 2007)