In our first digital Deepavali experience, we celebrate with spice and everything nice!
Enjoy a unique music presentation, hear a lively exchange between an Ayurvedic practitioner and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner about the use of spices in dishes, listen to stories about the Festival of Lights and watch an artist create a Rangoli live online, all from the comfort of your homes!
Museum visitors can also enjoy free admission to all galleries on 7 November, in celebration of Deepavali.
Spice
- A Lighter Side of History: Shining A Light on Deepavali and Ayurveda
Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a major cultural festival in Singapore that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. During this festive season, families decorate their homes with brilliant lights as aromatic spices fill the house and tantalise taste buds.
The inclusion of spices in iconic Deepavali (and other) dishes is a practice associated with Ayurveda, a form of Indian medicine which has roots in ancient Sanskrit sources. Interestingly, Ayurveda shares some common ground with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
In this special programme that is presented as part of the museum’s Ethnic Festival Celebrations for Deepavali, explore the similarities and differences between Ayurveda and TCM’s understanding of herbs and spices, with Vasanthi from the Ayurveda Association of Singapore and Mei Yi from Thye Shan Medical Hall.
This programme will also feature paintings of everyday herbs and spices from the museum’s prized William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.
Let's Make Rangoli
- Premiering live on NMS FB | 10.30am
Join Rangoli artist Priya as she creates this colourful piece of art right in the museum, combining traditional colourful powder with spices that are featured in the museum’s William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.
... & Everything Nice
- Classic Tunes with the Festival of Lights
- Premiering live on NMS FB | 2.30pm
Watch this special performance by Govin and Krsna Tan, two brothers who grew up in a Hindu household and celebrate Deepavali. Featuring classical instruments unique to the Indian culture, the duo will be performing a medley of tunes to celebrate the festive occasion.
A Storyteller's Deepavali – Storytelling by MoonShadow Stories
Come listen to acclaimed storyteller Kamini Ramachandran as she tells her very own story of celebrating Deepavali with family and friends. Why are items like fresh flowers and practices like lighting oil lamps important to the festival? Who is Hanuman and how is the Ramayana story related to Deepavali?
Get ready to find out more and be mesmerised by this personal and local tale about the Festival of Lights!
Image Credit: National Museum of Singapore
Age
0+
Price
Free
Links
Address
Singapore93 Stamford Road Bras Basah, South Singapore 178897
How to get there?
By MRT:
Bras Basah MRT Station (5-minute walk)
Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station (5-minute walk)
City Hall MRT Station (10-minute walk)