SINGAPORE: Members of the public can enjoy live performances, activity booths and guided tours with the Istana open to the public on Sunday (Nov 12) to celebrate Deepavali.
The open house will be held from 8.30am to 6pm, the President’s Office said in a news release on Wednesday.
Award-winning flautists Ghanavenothan Retnam and Tan Qing Lun will perform a fusion of Indian and Chinese classical music at the event.
Instrument, dance and band performances by student groups from schools such as Bukit Timah Primary School, Yishun Secondary School, St Magaret’s School and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, as well as the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society and Team Fusion, will also be staged throughout the day.
Visitors who want to take part in hands-on activities can visit the henna art, candle-making and balloon sculpting booths.
Those who want to take a guided tour of the Istana can do so from 9.30am to 5pm, during which they can view selected function rooms and take a closer look at a collection of state gifts presented to Singapore’s leaders.Â
Volunteers from the National Heritage Board will conduct the Istana main building guided tours, which are limited to 15 people per group and depart at 30-minute intervals.
A guided tour showcasing the Istana’s flora and fauna will also be available from 10am to 4pm. These tours, conducted by volunteers from NParks, are also limited to groups of 15 and depart every hour.Â
Alternatively, visitors can also opt to go on self-guided tours. The fees are as follows: