DPM Gan Kim Yong at the SG60 Interfaith Deepavali Tea

Respected Faith Leaders,
Community Leaders,
Members of the Hindu Endowments Board & Hindu Advisory Board
Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good evening to all of you. Thank you for inviting me to join all of you at this gathering — the SG60 Interfaith Deepavali Tea 2025.

Today, we are not just celebrating the spirit of Deepavali, we are also taking the opportunity to bring different faiths and cultures together, to network and to celebrate our shared values.

As all of you know, multiracialism and multiculturalism are part of our unique Singapore identity.

This was not an easy journey, but Mr Lee Kuan Yew, our founding Prime Minister, was determined that everybody would have a place in Singapore, regardless of race, language or religion.

Over the last 60 years, we have made significant progress in becoming one people.

This event is one such example. There are very few other places in the world where you will see a Deepavali celebration, with guests from 10 different faiths, and held in a Chinese cultural centre.

Another example is the collaborative art installation that is on display today.

This installation was created under the guidance of Mdm Vijaya Mohan.

Many of you would know that Mdm Vijaya is a renowned art therapist and Rangoli artist who holds the Guinness World Record for the largest Rangoli in the world.

Under her guidance, individuals of diverse races, cultures and faiths have worked together on this remarkable art piece, which is a visual expression of creativity, connection, and harmony.

As we celebrate SG60, we should not only celebrate how far we have come; we should also reflect on how we can continue to nurture our social cohesion and unity.

When we deepen our appreciation for one another’s beliefs, traditions and cultures, and see our diversity not as a weakness but as a strength, we will be able to achieve outcomes that are greater than the sum of our parts, just like the art installation created by Mdm Vijaya and her team of friends and artists.

I would like to thank the Hindu Endowments Board and the Hindu Advisory Board for your efforts to foster interfaith harmony. Just as Deepavali celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, let us continue to deepen mutual understanding across different faiths and cultures, strengthen our social harmony, and enhance our identity as Singaporeans. This is how our little red dot can continue to shine brightly for Singaporeans and for many more generations of Singaporeans to come.

Thank you. And have a great, wonderful evening.