Indian Heritage Centre’s Deepavali Open House to feature bus tours, LEGO rangoli mural

In celebration of the Festival of Lights, the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC) will hold its Deepavali Open House. The festivities this year will see the addition of two new programmes – Deepavali Big Bus Tour and the LEGO mural.

The Deepavali Big Bus Tour is a customised open-top sightseeing bus that will provide an introduction to the Little India precinct every weekend of the open house season. It is available on Oct 1, 8, 15 and 22, from 6pm to 8pm.

Another first for the open house is a community LEGO mural inspired by rangoli designs. Visitors can contribute to the mural by filling in its white outline with coloured LEGO bricks. This community LEGO mural has been designed in collaboration with LEGO artist Jeffrey Kong. The installation is free for viewing.

Programmes and installations from past years will also make a return, such as the miniature replica of the street light-up arches currently lighting up Campbell Lane in Little India.

Highlights also include a cooking demonstration by celebrity chefs Devagi Sanmugam and Vasunthara Ramasamy, who will teach participants how to make festive Deepavali meals including sampling of dishes at the end. Sessions will be held on Oct 16 and 23 from 10:30am to 12pm. The tickets are priced at $10 per entry.

Participants can decorate their own clay oil lamp at the Clay Oil Lamp Mandala Painting Workshop. The workshops will be held on Oct 15 and 16 from 2pm to 3:30pm and 4pm to 5:30pm. Tickets are priced at $10. 

Those interested to learn more about Little India can sign up for a guided tour of the Little India heritage trail. Participants of the tour can listen to anecdotes of first and second generation heritage business owners. Tours are held on Oct 1, 8, 15 and 22 from 10:30am to 12pm, at $10 per person. 

If you are too tired to explore on foot, consider joining the 15-minute Little India Trishaw Trails. The ride will go through Little India during the Festival of Lights, letting participants take in the sights, sounds and festivities. Rides will be held on Friday evenings on Sep 30, Oct 7, 14 and 21 between 6pm to 8pm. Tickets are priced at $10. 

The Deepavali Open House will run from Oct 1 to 23. Visitors may register for the programmes through IHC’s registration link.