The shiny surfaces of thousands of CDs adorned with colourful artificial gem stones will add glitter to the annual decorations at this year's Deepavali light-up.

Those behind these decorations are not professional artists but 750 intellectually and physically disabled people and the elderly from more than 20 homes. The CDs, decorated with traditional Indian Rangoli designs, were an idea initiated by counsellor and trained art therapist Mrs Vijaya Mohan. "I wanted to bring their skills to the limelight," said Mrs Mohan, who has been working with the disabled for 18 years.

At a press conference held at the National Museum, chairman of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association (Lisha), Mr Rajakumar Chandra, which organizes the Deepavali celebrations, announced the special feature this year.

The decorations, which cost more than $1 million, include 500,000 light bulbs, two large arches which are 6m-tall, and the life size replicas of Radha and Krishna, the divine lovers of Hindu mythology. The streets of Little India will be lit up from Sept 27 to Nov 17, to celebrate the festival that falls on Nov 2 this year.