The Istana held an open house on Sunday to mark Deepavali, drawing more than 8,500 visitors. For the first time, professional live commentary accompanied the Changing of Guards Ceremony, helping the public better understand its history and significance.
At 6.30pm on Sunday (1 November), crowds gathered outside the main gates of the Istana to watch the ceremony. Chen Lay Leng, a 60-year-old office administrator, and her husband arrived half an hour early to secure a good view.
Chen's son serves in the Army. At his suggestion, the couple decided to watch the Changing of Guards Ceremony at the Istana for the first time.
“I found the live commentary very helpful,” said Chen. “We only learnt then that the ceremony dates back to 1959. It's good to have this kind of commentary.”
The Istana's Changing of Guards Ceremony takes place on the first Sunday of every month. As this ceremony coincided with the Istana open house, organisers introduced live commentary for the first time and will retain it for future ceremonies.
Tan Shiyun, a 35-year-old product controller, and her husband made a special trip with their sons, aged two and four. It was the family's first time watching the Changing of Guards Ceremony. Tan described it as an interesting experience, saying both boys were engrossed in the proceedings.
Her four-year-old son, Nathaniel Lee, particularly enjoyed the Military Police's Silent Precision Drill. He said excitedly: “I like the military police, I want to watch it again!”
Tharman and wife mingle with visitors at activity-filled open house
The Istana was open from 10am to 8pm that day, with an outdoor concert, cultural performances and a community marketplace giving visitors a chance to explore the grounds and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his wife, Jane Ittogi, also attended the open house and mingled with visitors.
A 67-year-old retiree named Chua, who declined to give her full name, stood out in the crowd in a long red dress incorporating Indian design elements, which she had specially chosen for the occasion.
She said with a smile: “Since we're celebrating Deepavali, I thought I should dress for the occasion.”
Chua recalled taking her children to the Istana four or five times when they were young, many years ago. Now that they have grown up, she decided to return to see how the open house had changed.
Nadhirah, a 34-year-old administrative employee from Malaysia, travelled from Melaka specifically to watch local singer-songwriter Ahmadul Amin perform. As this was her first visit to the Istana, she lost her way but fortunately met Barbara, a 22-year-old German student, who helped her find it. The pair decided to explore together and enjoy the musical performances.
In conjunction with the open house, the Singapore Business Federation Foundation (SBF Foundation) also organised Walk for Work 2026. A total of 1,217 members of the business community took part in the charity walk, which raised $1 million to promote inclusive employment and help disadvantaged groups become self-reliant.
The foundation also held a community marketplace within the Istana grounds, inviting social service agencies to set up stalls to display and sell products. The initiative supported employment and livelihoods for disadvantaged groups while raising public awareness of inclusive employment.
