(Image source from: Times of India)
The festival of lights 'Diwali,' may still be weeks away but gearing up for the celebrations had already started and too not in India but at some 4200 kilometers Singapore.
Little India, a suburb in Singapore, is getting extensively decorated with every nook and corner of the area being well-lighted.
More than 3 lakh strong Indian community in Singapore is excited about the festivities associated with Diwali.
The shops and business establishments are expecting big gush in their sales during the festival season and the Indians living in Singapore too are making plans about celebrations. The jewelry shop owners are acquiring maximum customers.
At the Syed Alwi Road and Queens area in the heart of Singapore one feels like wandering in Indian surroundings in the literal sense and during festival season everything from eateries to upscale shops gets a facelift in Indian styles.
"We are waiting the Diwali with bated breath. This festival season is our favorite time and we spend it in style with lots of shopping and celebrations", said Indian students Manohar and Namita who are studying at the National University of Singapore.
A mobile shopkeeper from Tamilnadu Venkatraman said: "The festival season is biggest earning time for us. A lot of people make purchases and spend more during this period. The markets in Little India are decorated well during this time as we start getting more sales from the Navratras."
ImageSource: Times of India
Indians are the third largest ethnic groups in Singapore with 9.1 percent of the total citizens of Singapore. The Indians are seen in every sphere of life and markets in Little India are chiefly dominated by Indians. From among India, the Tamilians are in sizable numbers and it is likewise of the languages widely spoken in Singapore.
The notable Indian vocals are on a regular basis played at various music, mobile shops or in the eating houses offering Indian cuisine. As the other upscale markets are bit expensive to make purchases of any sort, Indians opt to visit Little India for shopping.
-Sowmya Samgam
