On The Red Dot: How We Celebrate Deepavali

Behind Deepavali's dazzling lights are stories of faith, tradition and belonging.

Martial arts teacher Giri hopes to bring traditional Indian martial arts to the festivities, sharing his cultural heritage with a wider audience. Meanwhile, migrant worker Aakash prepares to celebrate another Deepavali away from his family in India. Can he recreate the warmth of home with his friends in Singapore?

In Little India, Siva recalls how celebrations have changed since his childhood as he helps organise this year's iconic light-up. Historian Soundaranayaki traces the festival's roots, exploring how Indian communities brought their traditions to Singapore and how Deepavali became a public holiday.

From sacred rituals and family traditions to cultural performances, we discover how Deepavali has evolved over generations and the different ways Singaporeans celebrate it today.