Festive fun and cultural treats were on full display at Karnival Aidilfitri on Sunday (June 16) with everything from silat tanding and dikir barat performances to satay, lontong booths and batik fan-making.

The event at Marquee @ N6 Park in Hougang attracted around 2,000 residents of different races who made short work of the spread of Malay delicacies laid on.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was soon in the festive spirit, joining residents in picking up the angklung, a traditional musical instrument, to play tunes of Chan Mali Chan and Rasa Sayang.

Mr Lee, who is adviser to the Ang Mo Kio GRC grassroots organisations, greeted residents in Malay and wished them a happy Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

He also thanked those from the Merdeka Generation in particular for their contributions to the nation.

"We feel joy because we not just celebrate hari raya but because we get to celebrate it in Singapore with various races. The Chinese, Malays, Indians and the rest," he noted.

Mr Lee also thanked the various community clubs for strengthening the relationships between the authorities and residents in Ang Mo Kio GRC and Sengkang West SMC.

The inaugural carnival, which is part of Hari Raya celebrations organised by the Malay Activity Executive Committees from the various community clubs in Ang Mo Kio GRC & Sengkang West SMC, is a departure from the sit-down lunches and dinners of previous years.

The committee wanted residents to get up close and personal with Malay culture.

Mdm Noriani Binti Osman, the carnival's organising chairman, said: "We wanted to do something different this year, as we wanted all residents, and not just the Malay/Muslims, to come together and interact with each other as we celebrate Hari Raya as one big community.

"We wanted to recreate a kampung atmosphere while strengthening ties not just within the Malay community, but with residents of all races."