{"id":22533,"date":"2016-10-19T11:17:58","date_gmt":"2016-10-19T05:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/globalpress.hinduismnow.org?p=22530&preview_id=22530"},"modified":"2016-10-19T11:17:58","modified_gmt":"2016-10-19T05:47:58","slug":"singapore-celebrates-diwali-with-this-beautiful-themed-train","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/?p=22533","title":{"rendered":"Singapore celebrates Diwali with this beautiful themed train!"},"content":{"rendered":"
Festivals bring people together, and keeping that spirit alive, the transport authority in Singapore has joined in on the Diwali celebrations in a unique way. This year, Singapore\u2019s famous Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) launched its first Diwali-themed train on October 15. In a series of pictures that were shared on the Land Transport Authority\u2019s (LTA) Facebook page, one can see the decked up coaches with rangolis, diyas, festoons and the works.In its official statement, Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore which manages its Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, says, \u201cIt is an effort to celebrate the Festival of Lights in a whole new illuminating way this year. We have launched our first Deepavali themed train and now people can experience part of the stunning decorations at Little India right inside the MRT.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"diwali-singa-metro-2016_009_820_lta-fb\" (Source: Land Transport Authority\/Facebook)<\/span><\/p>\n

The designs and decorations take inspiration from a similar style of festivity that\u2019s exhibited in Singapore\u2019s Little India area, which has a dense Indian population, as the name suggests. The train features elegant elements such as intricate Indian jewellery, the lotus and peacock \u2013 a symbol of good luck.<\/p>\n

The themed train was launched by Singapore\u2019s Minister for Transport, Khaw Boon Wan, and will run on the North East Line (NEL) till mid-November.<\/p>\n

\"diwali-singa-metro-2016_006_820_lta-fb\" (Source: Land Transport Authority\/Facebook)<\/span><\/p>\n

The festivity and theme isn\u2019t just restricted to the train either. Both the North East Line and Downtown Line platforms at Little India Station have been decorated with the same theme as well.<\/p>\n

Speaking to The Indian Express<\/a>, Singapore-based NRI Kamal Khanna said, \u201cLittle India is a small hub here where most of shops and establishments are owned by Singaporeans who are Indians by origin. Their ancestors migrated here decades ago. The Little India has two metro rail stations \u2013 North Eastern Line (NEL) and Downtown Line \u2013 and both have been beautifully decorated by LTA to celebrate Deepawali.\u2019<\/p>\n

However, the Singapore government has completely banned crackers which cause air and sound pollution. \u201cThere is strict enforcement of the ban and we cannot burst crackers here. We appreciate this step to celebrate eco-friendly Diwali,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\"diwali-singa-metro-2016_001_820_lta-fb\" (Source: Land Transport Authority\/Facebook)<\/span>
\n\"diwali-singa-metro-2016_004_820_lta-fb\" (Source: Land Transport Authority\/Facebook)<\/span><\/p>\n

To add to this, gigantic Diwali-themed lights have been put up on the roads across Little India, with lotuses and peacocks adorning the top lights, while ornate columns and diyas line the road.<\/p>\n

\"diwali-singa-metro-2016_002_820_lta-fb\" (Source: Land Transport Authority\/Facebook)<\/span><\/p>\n

For this fun-filled celebratory project, LTA has collaborated with the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA) so as to get the decorations and designs just right.<\/p>\n

In celebration of the occasion, LTA has collaborated with the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (LISHA) to launch the Deepavali themed train.<\/p>\n

\"diwali-singa-metro-2016_003_820_lta-fb\" (Source: Land Transport Authority\/Facebook)<\/span><\/p>\n

The initiative has been met with a lot of positivity, and the going by the reactions to the photos shared on Facebook, there is a lot of appreciation for the Diwali-themed train and stations.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery year there are great Diwali decorations here in Singapore especially at Little India but the special themed trains have been launched for the first time,\u201d said Khanna.<\/p>\n

\"diwali-singa-metro-2016_005_820_lta-fb\"

(Source: Land Transport Authority\/Facebook)<\/p><\/div>\n

What do you think of this initiative? Tell us in the comments below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Festivals bring people together, and keeping that spirit alive, the transport authority in Singapore has joined in on the Diwali celebrations in a unique way. This year, Singapore\u2019s famous Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) launched its first Diwali-themed train on October 15. In a series of pictures that were shared on the Land Transport Authority\u2019s (LTA) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22533"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22533"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22533\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalpress-new.hinduismnow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}