A brighter celebration this Deepavali

Deepavali is on Saturday, yet the festive spirit has already been present among the crowd rushing to do last-minute shopping at Little India.

As the streets light up with royal purple and pink decorations that stretch from Campbell Lane to Race Course Lane, skinny walkways were jam-packed.

Jostling through the crowd required swift hand and leg co-ordination to avoid bulky shopping bags.

Yet business is competitive, with the yearly Deepavali bazaar that offers festive goodies, home decorations, glittering saris and kurta, and fresh flower garlands at bargainable prices.

A snacks and goodies stall at the bazaar run by Ms Saugeetha Yog, 19, and her aunt seemed to be doing well. Customers were buying up to nine packets of snacks at a go. She said: "We are seeing more customers these few days before Deepavali. Some stalls sell the goodies at $10 to $15 while we sell them at three for $10 and up to $18 for the favourite muruku and cookies."

Text by Michelle Tay of Republic Polytechnic.
Photos by Wan Nur Fadhillah

This is a final-year project by Republic Polytechnic students in conjunction with AsiaOne.

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