SINGAPORE - In celebration of Ramadan, a Muslim holy month that devotees commemorate by fasting, the annual Hari Raya Light Up at Geylang Serai will start next Friday.

The area will be awash in green, yellow and blue lights and feature traditional Malay motifs and architecture as part of the decorations. The main Grand Entourage arch that welcomes visitors to the street, for instance, will feature a triangular roof that were seen in traditional Malay houses in the 1900s.

Other arches that form part of the street light-ups are also inspired by Turkish-style minarets - a tower-like architectural feature typical of Islamic mosques. Singapore's Alkaff Mosque located at Upper Serangoon Road, for instance, has them.

A series of programmes, including displays and demonstrations of traditional Malay games, musical instruments and wedding handicraft, have also been planned to help Singaporeans and tourists understand Malay cultures and traditions better.

The committee behind this year's Hari Raya event is made up of 17 representatives from cultural and religions organisations like mosques, grassroots and community leaders, as well as stakeholders and business associations from the Geylang Serai and Kembangan- Chai Chee area.

They are led by Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin and Associate Professor Fatimah Lateef, MP for Marine Parade GRC.

Said Prof Fatimah: "Unlike a melting pot, Singapore is closer to a salad bowl with different flavours (cultures) all co-existing in harmony - we do not want to lose the different flavours, instead we want to celebrate them and pass on to our next generation."