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SINGAPORE – This year there will be no Geylang Serai Hari Raya Bazaar, the second year in a row the annual event has been canceled.
However, the area where the event traditionally takes place will be illuminated with festive decorations from April 9 to May 23.
An online bazaar will also be held from April 9 to May 13, which is Hari Raya Puasa.
Bazaar organizer Wisma Geylang Serai (WGS) announced on Wednesday (January 13) that physical bazaars and trade fairs that traditionally draw large crowds will not be resumed in light of the evolving Covid-19 situation, “by the safety and well-being of our residents. “
Instead, this year an online version of the bazaar will be held on a new digital platform.
A launch show will also be held to mark the start of Hari Raya Light Up, as well as the online fair, and will be streamed live on the WGS social media platforms.
The ongoing pandemic also saw the Chinatown Bazaar, which would have been celebrated this month in the run-up to Chinese New Year, canceled late last year.
The month-long Geylang Bazaar is generally held during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and draws large crowds to stalls offering a wide variety of food and drink, festive clothing, and home decorations, as well as live auctions.
Full-time national military man Muhammad Syafiq Mohamed Khairani, 20, was disappointed to learn that there will be no physical bazaar.
“Other places like shopping malls can be as crowded as the bazaar would be,” he said, suggesting that steps could be taken to limit the number of visitors, as was done in some wet markets.
But student Rania Nair, 20, a resident of Geylang Serai, felt that an online bazaar is the safest option, given the Covid-19 situation.
“We can always have a physical bazaar when things get better,” he said, adding that he would visit the online bazaar to buy food and festive clothing.
Last year’s bazaar was canceled in mid-March, amid a surge in the number of Covid-19 infections that prompted authorities to request that all cultural, sporting and entertainment events with 250 participants or more be postponed or canceled. However, an e-commerce platform was launched to help traditional vendors sell and deliver food products and holiday items.
This year’s online bazaar will be hosted by WGS, which is part of the People’s Association and brings together various social and community facilities, as well as the Singapore Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI).
Online programs will also be selected for residents and will include music, comedy, cooking, baking and exercise videos that will be streamed on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
There will also be special “live” performances, such as an e-buka puasa (breaking of the fast) show and a Hari Raya show.
Other activities include a Hari Raya songwriting contest, and the winning song will be used as the theme song for WGS Hari Raya shows throughout the year. An open call for participants will be launched in March 2021.
There will also be a TikTok campaign and Home Light-Up competition to get people in the festive mood for Hari Raya celebrations.
More details about the online bazaar and other activities will be announced in early April.
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