Beyond Cultural Boundaries: A Deepavali Celebration That Brings Communities Together

The decorated bamboo banks, each uniquely personalised by attendees during the festive gathering, were brought home as keepsakes and reminders of the spirit of giving. (Photo by Chong Mong Zhuang)

On 25 October 2026, the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre (HYC) Great Hall came alive with festive joy as 75 participants from 27 households gathered for the 2026 Deepavali Festive Gathering themed “Lighting Hope, Sharing Warmth”. Organised by the Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore), this year’s event nearly tripled the attendance of previous years by welcoming Malay and Chinese care recipient families under one roof for the very first time.

This year’s Deepavali Festive Gathering brought care recipients and their families from different ethnic backgrounds together to celebrate the festive season, fostering mutual understanding and creating meaningful moments of joy and connection. The programme featured Indian-themed interactive activity booths, including henna hand art, bamboo bank decoration and a festive family photo station. These hands-on activities encouraged participants to explore Indian traditions, deepen their cultural understanding and build connections with the wider community. 

Among the many interactive booths, the Bamboo Bank decoration booth stood out with its vibrant colours and glittering decorations as families personalised their bamboo banks using stickers, colourful markers, and glittery sequins. Berokkaur, a Tzu Chi financial aid recipient and first-time visitor to HYC, expressed deep gratitude for the peaceful environment and the attentive guidance of the volunteers. As she thoughtfully decorated her bamboo bank, she shared her intention to deposit a coin into it daily while sowing a good thought in the process. She also learnt that she could hand her filled bamboo bank to the volunteers who visit her every month, allowing her to continue sharing her blessings with others.

One Big Family: Crossing Cultural Lines to Share Festive Warmth

Deepavali is traditionally a grand celebration of light for the Indian community, but at this year’s gathering, the warmth of togetherness transcended cultural and language boundaries. By bringing together care recipient families of Indian, Malay, and Chinese backgrounds, the event truly reflected Singapore’s rich multicultural spirit and Tzu Chi’s spirit of universal love.

Rani Situmal Balani and her husband found the event to be fun and lively this year because of the activity booths and the presence of families from different ethnic backgrounds. To her, it was a precious opportunity to learn about each other’s cultures. Tzu Chi has been supporting her with medical expenses and supplies for more than a year. She always looks forward to the monthly care visits where she gets to chat with Tzu Chi volunteers, and is excited about future events such as the Deepavali Festive Gathering.  

 Mdm Rani Situmal Balani (right) and her husband participating in a Deepavali trivia quiz. (Photo by Lim Swan Chow) 

Among the attendees was 64-year-old Sarimah Binte Sarrif, who attended the event alongside her husband. Although wheelchair-bound, her face radiated joy throughout the afternoon. While the couple do not celebrate Deepavali themselves, they were served a thoughtfully prepared Halal bento meal and enjoyed immersing themselves in the festive atmosphere.

“I am so happy to be here today,” Sarimah shared with a wide smile. She expressed how meaningful it was to learn more about Indian culture and traditions, while fostering cross-cultural interactions and making new friends across different ethnic communities. Looking ahead, she added that she hoped to participate in similar multicultural gatherings again in the future.

Mdm Sarimah (right) and her husband (left) decorating the bamboo bank during the event. (Photo by Lim Swan Chow)

The sense of inclusion was equally felt by 81-year-old Ng Ah Moi, who attended the event with her 74-year-old brother-in-law, Kee Teow Kheng. Living with mild dementia and unable to speak English, Ah Moi was accompanied throughout the event by attentive volunteers who translated the emcee’s sharing in real time, allowing her to participate fully.

Deeply touched by the volunteers' genuine enthusiasm and warmth, Ah Moi beamed with excitement, especially during mealtime. Enjoying Indian cuisine for the very first time, she expressed her delight in savouring fresh naan and rich curry. Her brother-in-law, Kee, who is more familiar with Indian food, described the event’s atmosphere as deeply touching and heartwarming, noting how powerful it was to see people from all walks of life sharing sincere care with one another.

Ng Ah Moi (second from the left) attended the blessing ceremony with her 74-year-old brother-in-law, Kee Teow Kheng (first from the right). Volunteer sitting next to her translated what the emcee said to help her follow the programme. (Photo by Lim Swan Chow)

Gift of Love on Stage: Turning Personal Journeys into Shared Strength

The stage came alive with deep heartfelt connections as care recipients and their families stepped into the spotlight, turning their personal journeys into a source of inspiration for everyone present.

Young emcee Vaishnavi was inspired by the stories shared and also realised that there are so many things we should not take for granted. (Photo by Lim Swan Chow)

Kicking off the stage performances for the day, a care recipient family stepped forward to delight the audience with their performance. Despite only being introduced to Tzu Chi in June this year, Gopal Shree Vaishnavi served as the emcee for part of the programme, while her father took to the stage to sing and her sisters performed a festive dance. Her father shared that even as a care recipient, he felt it was important to step forward during this festive season to spread joy and love through performance. Grateful for the educational support provided by Tzu Chi, Vaishnavi was profoundly inspired by the stories shared on stage and the closing Tzu Chi Prayer, realising that there is so much in life we should never take for granted. Moved by the experience, the family hopes to volunteer with Tzu Chi next year to pass the love forward.   

Following the heartwarming performance, care recipient Devika delivered a deeply moving testimony of resilience. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017, the former military officer and avid runner—once accustomed to regular exercise and running up to 20 kilometres—shared how she found the strength to face the challenges of her condition, drawing motivation from her love for her family.

“But somewhere in that darkness, I found my light. I looked at my daughter and told myself, ‘My girl needs me.’ That became my turning point,” Devika recalled.

Devika posing in front of the peacock-themed photo backdrop specially set up by volunteers. (Photo by Fong Kwai Kin)

Even while navigating severe personal hardships and also caring for her elderly mother, Devika's spirit remained unyielding. Despite losing her sense of taste and smell, she continues to cook for her family—even persevering through a painful pressure cooker accident when her legs froze, resulting in burns that took two weeks to recover from. Looking ahead, Devika is preparing for deep brain stimulation surgery and remains determined to continue running after the procedure.

“Just do it! I want to run 50km before turning 50,” she shared with enthusiasm.

Concluding her sharing with a powerful message of hope and perseverance, Devika reminded the audience: “Believe that life has a purpose. Don’t give up.”

Light Up Inner Light

 As Master Cheng Yen teaches, “A small candle has the power to illuminate the darkest room; a small act of kindness can brighten someone’s life.” Just as the oil lamps of Deepavali dispel darkness, nurturing a positive mindset and self-belief helps care recipients kindle their own inner light. With renewed confidence and community support, they are empowered to face the journey ahead with hope and resilience.

Share