What you shouldn’t miss at Singapore Heritage Festival

Singapore Heritage Festival (SHF) is happening across three weekends from April 28 to May 14. 

The second week of SHF focuses on programmes in Little India – of which the biggest highlight is the Ramayana Extravaganza, one of the performances celebrating the second anniversary of the Indian Heritage Centre.

The Hindu epic will be told through traditional art forms of Wayang Kulit, Theerkoothu (Indian masked street dance), and accompanied by gamelan and Indian music.

Photo courtesy: heritagefestival.sg
Photo courtesy: heritagefestival.sg

There are two programmes that are happening throughout the festival hours in Little India – Art Street @ Campbell and Sea of Sarees

Organised by the Indian Heritage Centre and various community organisations, the ethnic enclave will come alive with street art inspired by floral designs and Indian textile motifs.

Inspired by the various textile shops in Little India, Sea of Sarees is an outdoor art installation that will adorn Campbell Lane. Visually vibrant and colourful, the street will be transformed into a creative tapestry of stylised sarees.

Here are the highlights you shouldn't miss out: 

1.The Ramayana Extravaganza

Photo courtesy: heritagefestival.sg
Photo courtesy: heritagefestival.sg

Enjoy a never-seen-before performance staged on the steps of the Indian Heritage Centre on Campbell Lane! This outdoor installation is sure to enthrall. 

The multi-cultural collaboration sees traditional art forms of Wayang Kulit (Southeast Asian shadow puppet theatre) coming together with Theerkoothu (an Indian masked street dance), and accompanied by Gamelan (Indonesian musical ensemble) and Indian music.

When: 6.30pm, May 6
Where: Campbell Lane
Entry: Free

2. Tholpavakoothu – Puppet Performance from Kerala

Photo courtesy: keralatourism.org
Photo courtesy: keralatourism.org

Experience a live traditional Kerala puppet show presented by master puppeteers from Kerala's Tholpavakoothu Sangam! Watch puppets come to life under the nimble hands of the puppeteers, and enjoy classical stories told across generations.

When: 7pm, May 7
Where: Campbell Lane
Entry: Free 

3. Therupori – Street Sparks

Photo courtesy: sitfexplorers Facebook
Photo courtesy: sitfexplorers Facebook

Join the Singapore Indian Theatre and Film Explorers for a live outdoor theatrical production conducted in Tamil, which will showcase vignettes of the various streets in Little India.

When: 7pm, May 13-14
Where: Campbell Lane
Entry: Free

4. Drums Circle

Photo courtesy: NADI Singapura Facebook
Photo courtesy: NADI Singapura Facebook

Get your heart thumping with Singapore ensemble Nadi Singapura and friends as they enliven the streets with the beat of traditional drums and percussions from the various communities in Singapore!

When: 5pm on May 6, 6pm on May 7
Where: Campbell Lane
Entry: Free

5. Legendary Food Trails with Celebrity Chefs

Chef Devagi Sanmugam. Photo courtesy: heritagefestival.sg
Chef Devagi Sanmugam. Photo courtesy: heritagefestival.sg

Join celebrity chefs Devagi Sanmugam and Sultanul Ariffin for a feast for the senses in this special guided tour of Little India's famous eateries. 

Trails will be conducted by celebrity chefs: 
• Chef Devagi Sanmugam​: Known as the Spice Queen in Singapore, Chef Devagi has won numerous accolades as a cookbook author, food columnist, cooking instructor and entrepreneur. 
• Chef Sultanul Ariffin:  A celebrity chef on local broadcast channels, Vasantham and Oli 96.8, with 30 years of experience in the culinary world. 

Registration here

When: 11am/2pm/4pm, May 6-7, May 13-14
Where: Little India
Entry: S$18