Punggol mum sets up table with snacks outside HDB flat to share Deepavali joy with neighbours

Outside a Punggol flat, a table with various snacks — packets of murukku, old-school candies, and chilled drinks — greets anyone who might pass by.

The snacks and the “Happy Deepavali” decor strung behind it are a bright splash of welcome colour that breaks the monotony of the corridors that stretch out on either end.

This is the simple yet wholesome initiative that Logatarshini "Tarsh" Shathivel, a mother of two young children, had come up with.

Tarsh thought of the initiative as a way of sharing the joy of Deepavali with those living around her.

Small gesture, big heart

A private caregiver by profession, Tarsh’s family has lived in Punggol for almost two years.

While she has previously distributed snacks to cleaners in her area, this is the first time she’s extended the gesture to her wider neighbourhood via the neighbourhood's Telegram chat.

She shared that this was another way that her family could get to know her neighbours better.

“These days, everyone is so busy that we hardly have time to say hello to our neighbours, let alone have a proper chat. So when I create something like this, it helps a lot to build the (sense of) together-ness.”

While she started the initiative on Oct. 12, Tarsh plans to keep the snack table running all the way till Deepavali.

Neighbourly connection

Her act of kindness and yummy treats have not gone unnoticed by her neighbours.

The main treat that stands out on the table — murukku — is a traditional snack that most Singaporeans are familiar with, and Tarsh also agreed that it was something that many Indians grew up enjoying during the festive season.

To her, it was something that represented the homemade warmth and cultural heritage of Deepavali.

In pictures that she shared with Mothership, various people have not just stopped by her table out of curiosity but have even gone out of their way to contribute their own treats.

She also felt thankful for how well the response has gone among her neighbours and for how it has made her feel more seen.

“Now, when they see me around, immediately my neighbours (are) like, ‘Hey Tarsh, thanks for the snacks!’,” she added.

“Some neighbours who I only used to wave to now actually stop for a chat. It gives that kampung feeling — like everyone’s a bit more connected.”

A little bit of light, a little bit of kindness

As someone in the caregiving profession, Tarsh shared that she wanted her neighbours to know that she could be their pillar of support.

“Someone [in the neighbourhood chat] recently shared that a neighbour nearby had taken their life due to depression. I told them about my work as a caregiver and that I’m always here if anyone needs support,” Tarsh recalled.

In the midst of all this, and as Deepavali approaches, Tarsh’s snack table continues to brighten the corridor.

“Deepavali is a celebration of light over darkness, and I believe that even a small gesture like sharing a traditional snack (or) a drink can be a spark of light in someone’s day. It’s not about the value of the item, but the thought behind it.”

Top photos courtesy of Logatarshini Shathivel.