Istana to hold Deepavali open house on Nov 1 with first narrated changing of guard ceremony
The Istana will open to the public on Sunday (Nov 1) to celebrate Deepavali, with the first-ever narrated changing of guards ceremony among the programme lineup."Visitors can look forward to the first narrated changing of guards ceremony held in conjunction with an Istana open house, an evening outdoor concert, and a range of cultural performances and activities for all ages," the President's Office said on Tuesday (Oct 27).The changing of guards is a longstanding military tradition, marking the formal handover of sentry duties from outgoing to incoming guards. The open house, which will be held from 10am to 8pm, will also feature a community marketplace organised by the Singapore Business Federation Foundation, showcasing inclusive employment support and practices, and feature booths by community organisations.There will also be a diverse lineup of music, dance and cultural performances taking place throughout the day, culminating in an evening outdoor concert — that first featured in the National Day open house.